<PAGE>

                                CREDIT AGREEMENT



                           DATED AS OF OCTOBER 31, 1996


                                     BETWEEN

                            MIDLAND RESOURCES, INC.,
                                   AS BORROWER

                                       AND

                  FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK OF NORTH CAROLINA,
                                    AS LENDER







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                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                           Page
                                                                           ----

ARTICLE I

     DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING MATTERS

     Section 1.01  TERMS DEFINED ABOVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   1
     Section 1.02  CERTAIN DEFINED TERMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   1
     Section 1.03  ACCOUNTING TERMS AND DETERMINATIONS . . . . . . . . . .  15

ARTICLE II

     COMMITMENTS

     Section 2.01  LOAN AND LETTERS OF CREDIT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15
     Section 2.02  BORROWINGS, CONTINUATIONS, CONVERSIONS 
                   AND LETTERS OF CREDIT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16
     Section 2.03  CHANGES OF COMMITMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17
     Section 2.04  FEES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  18
     Section 2.05  LENDING OFFICES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  18
     Section 2.06  NOTE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  18
     Section 2.07  PREPAYMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19
     Section 2.08  BORROWING BASE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  20
     Section 2.09  ASSUMPTION OF RISKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  21
     Section 2.10  OBLIGATION TO REIMBURSE AND TO PREPAY . . . . . . . . .  21

ARTICLE III

     PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST

     Section 3.01  REPAYMENT OF LOANS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  23
     Section 3.02  INTEREST. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  23

ARTICLE IV

     PAYMENTS; COMPUTATIONS; ETC.

     Section 4.01  PAYMENTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  24
     Section 4.02  COMPUTATIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  24
     Section 4.03  SET-OFF.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  24
     Section 4.04  TAXES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  25


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<PAGE>

     Section 4.05  DISPOSITION OF PROCEEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  27

ARTICLE V

     CAPITAL ADEQUACY

     Section 5.01  ADDITIONAL COSTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  28
     Section 5.02  LIMITATION ON LIBOR LOANS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  29
     Section 5.03  ILLEGALITY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  30
     Section 5.04  BASE RATE LOANS PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 5.01, 5.02 
                   AND 5.03  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  30
     Section 5.05  COMPENSATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  30

ARTICLE VI

     CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

     Section 6.01  INITIAL FUNDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  31
     Section 6.02  INITIAL AND SUBSEQUENT LOANS. . . . . . . . . . . . . .  32
     Section 6.03  CONDITIONS RELATING TO LETTERS OF CREDIT. . . . . . . .  33

ARTICLE VII

     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

     Section 7.01  CORPORATE EXISTENCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  33
     Section 7.02  FINANCIAL CONDITION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  33
     Section 7.03  LITIGATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  34
     Section 7.04  NO BREACH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  34
     Section 7.05  AUTHORITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  34
     Section 7.06  APPROVALS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  34
     Section 7.07  USE OF LOANS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  35
     Section 7.08  ERISA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  35
     Section 7.09  TAXES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  36
     Section 7.10  TITLES, ETC.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  36
     Section 7.11  NO MATERIAL MISSTATEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  37
     Section 7.12  INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  37
     Section 7.13  PUBLIC UTILITY HOLDING COMPANY ACT. . . . . . . . . . .  37
     Section 7.14  SUBSIDIARIES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  37
     Section 7.15  LOCATION OF BUSINESS AND OFFICES. . . . . . . . . . . .  37
     Section 7.16  DEFAULTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  37
     Section 7.17  ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  38
     Section 7.18  COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  39


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     Section 7.19  INSURANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  39
     Section 7.20  GAS IMBALANCES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  40
     Section 7.21  HEDGING AGREEMENTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  40

ARTICLE VIII

     AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

     Section 8.01  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  40
     Section 8.02  LITIGATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  42
     Section 8.03  MAINTENANCE, ETC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  42
     Section 8.04  ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  43
     Section 8.05  FURTHER ASSURANCES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  44
     Section 8.06  PERFORMANCE OF OBLIGATIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  44
     Section 8.07  ENGINEERING REPORTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  44
     Section 8.08  TITLE INFORMATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  45
     Section 8.09  ADDITIONAL COLLATERAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  46
     Section 8.10  ERISA INFORMATION AND COMPLIANCE. . . . . . . . . . . .  46
     Section 8.11  MANAGEMENT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  47
     Section 8.12  NOTICE TO PURCHASERS OF HYDROCARBONS. . . . . . . . . .  47
     Section 8.13  SUMMIT ACQUISITION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  47

ARTICLE IX

     NEGATIVE COVENANTS

     Section 9.01  DEBT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  47
     Section 9.02  LIENS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  48
     Section 9.03  INVESTMENTS, LOANS AND ADVANCES . . . . . . . . . . . .  48
     Section 9.04  DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND REDEMPTIONS. . . . . . . .  49
     Section 9.05  SALES AND LEASEBACKS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  49
     Section 9.06  NATURE OF BUSINESS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  49
     Section 9.07  LIMITATION ON LEASES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  49
     Section 9.08  MERGERS, ETC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  50
     Section 9.09  PROCEEDS OF NOTE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  50
     Section 9.10  ERISA COMPLIANCE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  50
     Section 9.11  SALE OR DISCOUNT OF RECEIVABLES . . . . . . . . . . . .  51
     Section 9.12  CURRENT RATIO.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  51
     Section 9.13  TANGIBLE NET WORTH. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  52
     Section 9.14  CASH FLOW COVERAGE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  52
     Section 9.15  SALE OF OIL AND GAS PROPERTIES. . . . . . . . . . . . .  52
     Section 9.16  ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  52


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     Section 9.17  TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES. . . . . . . . . . . . . .  52
     Section 9.18  SUBSIDIARIES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  52
     Section 9.19  NEGATIVE PLEDGE AGREEMENTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  52
     Section 9.20  GAS IMBALANCES, TAKE-OR-PAY OR OTHER PREPAYMENTS. . . .  53
     Section 9.21  ACCOUNTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  53

ARTICLE X

     EVENTS OF DEFAULT; REMEDIES

     Section 10.01  EVENTS OF DEFAULT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  53
     Section 10.02  REMEDIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  55

ARTICLE XI

     MISCELLANEOUS

     Section 11.01  WAIVER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  56
     Section 11.02  NOTICES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  56
     Section 11.03  PAYMENT OF EXPENSES, INDEMNITIES, ETC. . . . . . . . .  56
     Section 11.04  AMENDMENTS, ETC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  58
     Section 11.05  SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  59
     Section 11.06  ASSIGNMENTS AND PARTICIPATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . .  59
     Section 11.07  INVALIDITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  60
     Section 11.08  COUNTERPARTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  60
     Section 11.09  REFERENCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  60
     Section 11.10  SURVIVAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  60
     Section 11.11  CAPTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  61
     Section 11.12  NO ORAL AGREEMENTS.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  61
     Section 11.13  GOVERNING LAW; SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION. . . . . . .  61
     Section 11.14  INTEREST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  62
     Section 11.15  CONFIDENTIALITY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  63
     Section 11.16  EFFECTIVENESS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  63
     Section 11.17  EXCULPATION PROVISIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  63

Exhibit A - Form of Note
Exhibit B - Form of Borrowing, Continuation and Conversion Request
Exhibit C - Form of Compliance Certificate
Exhibit D - Form of Legal Opinion of Michener, Larimore, Swindle, Whitaker,
                 Flowers, Sawyer, Reynolds & Chalk, L.L.P.
Exhibit E - List of Security Instruments
Exhibit F - Form of Letter in Lieu


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Schedule I     - Borrowing Base
Schedule 7.02  - Liabilities
Schedule 7.03  - Litigation
Schedule 7.09  - Taxes
Schedule 7.10  - Titles, etc.
Schedule 7.14  - List of Subsidiaries and Partnerships
Schedule 7.17  - Environmental Matters
Schedule 7.19  - Insurance
Schedule 7.20  - Gas Imbalances
Schedule 7.21  - Hedging Agreements
Schedule 9.01  - Debt
Schedule 9.02  - Liens
Schedule 9.03  - Investments, Loans and Advances







                                      -v-
<PAGE>

          THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of October 31, 1996 is between: 
MIDLAND RESOURCES, INC., a corporation formed under the laws of the State of
Texas (the "BORROWER") and FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK OF NORTH CAROLINA, a
national banking association (the "LENDER").

                                 R E C I T A L S

     A.   The Borrower has requested that the Lender amend, extend and rearrange
all of the Existing Indebtedness (as defined in Section 1.01) and provide
certain loans and make extensions of credit to the Borrower.

     B.   The Lender has agreed to amend, extend and rearrange the Existing
Indebtedness and to make such loans and extensions of credit subject to the
terms and conditions of this Agreement.

     C.   In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein
contained and of the loans and commitments hereinafter referred to, the parties
hereto agree to amend and restate the Existing Loan Agreement (as defined in
Section 1.01) as follows:



                                    ARTICLE I

                       DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING MATTERS

          Section 1.01  TERMS DEFINED ABOVE.  As used in this Agreement, the
terms "BORROWER" and "LENDER" shall have the meanings indicated above.

          Section 1.02  CERTAIN DEFINED TERMS.  As used herein, the following
terms shall have the following meanings (all terms defined in this Article I or
in other provisions of this Agreement in the singular to have the same meanings
when used in the plural and VICE VERSA):

          "ADDITIONAL COSTS" shall have the meaning assigned such term in
     Section 5.01(a).

          "AFFECTED LOANS" shall have the meaning assigned such term in
     Section 5.04.

          "AFFILIATE" of any Person shall mean (i) any Person directly or
     indirectly controlled by, controlling or under common control with
     such first Person, (ii) any director or officer of such first Person
     or of any Person referred to in clause (i) above and (iii) if any
     Person in clause (i) above is an individual, any member of the
     immediate family (including parents, spouse and children) of such
     individual and any trust whose principal beneficiary is such
     individual or one or more members of such immediate family and any
     Person who is controlled by any such


<PAGE>

     member or trust.  As used in this definition, any Person which owns 
     directly or indirectly 10% or more of the securities having ordinary 
     voting power for the election of directors or other governing body of a 
     corporation or 10% or more of the partnership or other ownership 
     interests of any other Person (other than as a limited partner of such 
     other Person) will be deemed to "CONTROL" (including, with its 
     correlative meanings, "CONTROLLED BY" and "UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH") 
     such corporation or other Person. 

          "AGREEMENT" shall mean this Credit Agreement, as the same may
     from time to time be amended or supplemented.

          "APPLICABLE LENDING OFFICE" shall mean for each Type of Loan, the
     lending office of the Lender (or an Affiliate of the Lender)
     designated for such Type of Loan on the signature pages hereof or such
     other offices of the Lender (or of an Affiliate of the Lender) as the
     Lender may from time to time specify to the Borrower as the office by
     which Loans of such Type are to be made and maintained.

          "APPLICABLE MARGIN" shall mean (i) one fourth of one percent (1\4
     of 1%) per annum with respect to Base Rate Loans; and (ii) two and
     three-fourths of one percent (2 and 3/4 of 1%) per annum with respect
     to LIBOR Loans.

          "BASE RATE" shall mean, with respect to any Base Rate Loan, for
     any day, the higher of (i) the Federal Funds Rate for any such day
     plus 1/2 of 1% or (ii) the Prime Rate for such day.  Each change in
     any interest rate provided for herein based upon the Base Rate
     resulting from a change in the Base Rate shall take effect at the time
     of such change in the Base Rate.

          "BASE RATE LOANS" shall mean Loans that bear interest at rates
     based upon the Base Rate.

          "BORROWING BASE" shall mean at any time an amount equal to the
     amount determined in accordance with Section 2.08.

          "BUSINESS DAY" shall mean any day other than a day on which
     commercial banks are authorized or required to close in Charlotte,
     North Carolina and, where such term is used in the definition of
     "Quarterly Date" or if such day relates to a borrowing or continuation
     of, a payment or prepayment of principal of or interest on, or a
     conversion of or into, or the Interest Period for, a LIBOR Loan or a
     notice by the Borrower with respect to any such borrowing or
     continuation, payment, prepayment, conversion or Interest Period, any
     day which is also a day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are
     carried out in the London interbank market.

          "CLOSING DATE" shall mean October 31, 1996.


                                      -2-
<PAGE>

          "CODE" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
     from time to time and any successor statute.

          "COMMITMENT" shall mean the Lender's obligation to make the Loans
     pursuant to Section 2.01(a) and to issue Letters of Credit as provided
     in Section 2.01(b) in an aggregate amount not to exceed the lesser of
     (i) $20,000,000 or (ii) the then effective Borrowing Base. 

          "CONSOLIDATED NET INCOME" shall mean with respect to the Borrower
     and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, for any period, the aggregate of
     the net income (or loss) of the Borrower and its Consolidated
     Subsidiaries after allowances for taxes for such period, determined on
     a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; PROVIDED that there
     shall be excluded from such net income (to the extent otherwise
     included therein) the following:  (i) the net income of any Person in
     which the Borrower or any Consolidated Subsidiary has an interest
     (which interest does not cause the net income of such other Person to
     be consolidated with the net income of the Borrower and its
     Consolidated Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP), except to the
     extent of the amount of dividends or distributions actually paid in
     such period by such other Person to the Borrower or to a Consolidated
     Subsidiary, as the case may be; (ii) the net income (but not loss) of
     any Consolidated Subsidiary to the extent that the declaration or
     payment of dividends or similar distributions or transfers or loans by
     that Consolidated Subsidiary is not at the time permitted by operation
     of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument or
     Governmental Requirement applicable to such Consolidated Subsidiary,
     or is otherwise restricted or prohibited in each case determined in
     accordance with GAAP, (iii) the net income (or loss) of any Person
     acquired in a pooling-of-interests transaction for any period prior to
     the date of such transaction, (iv) any extraordinary gains or losses,
     including gains or losses attributable to Property sales not in the
     ordinary course of business and (v) the cumulative effect of a change
     in accounting principles and any gains or losses attributable to
     writeups or writedowns of assets.

          "CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES" shall mean each Subsidiary of the
     Borrower (whether now existing or hereafter created or acquired) the
     financial statements of which shall be (or should have been)
     consolidated with the financial statements of the Borrower in
     accordance with GAAP; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, such term shall not include
     Summit until the Summit Acquisition has occurred.

          "DEBT" shall mean, for any Person the sum of the following
     (without duplication): (i) all obligations of such Person for borrowed
     money or evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar
     instruments (including principal, interest, fees and charges); (ii)
     all obligations of such Person (whether contingent or otherwise) in
     respect of bankers' acceptances, letters of credit, surety or other
     bonds and similar instruments; (iii) all obligations of such Person to
     pay the deferred purchase price of Property or services (other than
     for borrowed money);


                                      -3-
<PAGE>

     (iv) all obligations under leases which shall have been, or should have 
     been, in accordance with GAAP, recorded as capital leases in respect of 
     which such Person is liable (whether contingent or otherwise); (v) all 
     obligations under leases which require such Person or its Affiliate to 
     make payments over the term of such lease, including payments at 
     termination, which are substantially equal to at least eighty percent 
     (80%) of the purchase price of the Property subject to such lease plus 
     interest as an imputed rate of interest; (vi) all Debt (as described in 
     the other clauses of this definition) and other obligations of others 
     secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person, whether or not such Debt 
     is assumed by such Person; (vii) all Debt (as described in the other 
     clauses of this definition) and other obligations of others guaranteed 
     by such Person or in which such Person otherwise assures a creditor 
     against loss of the Debtor or obligations of others; (viii) all 
     obligations or undertakings of such Person to maintain or cause to be 
     maintained the financial position or covenants of others or to purchase 
     the Debt (as described in the other clauses of this definition) or 
     Property of others; (ix) any capital stock of such Person which such 
     Person has a mandatory obligation to redeem such stock; (x) any Debt 
     (as described in the other clauses of this definition) of a Special 
     Entity for which such Person is liable either by agreement or because 
     of a Governmental Requirement; (xi) obligations to deliver goods or 
     services including Hydrocarbons in consideration of advance payments;  
     (xii) obligations to pay for goods or services whether or not such 
     goods or services are actually received or utilized by such Person; 
     (xiii) all obligations of such Person under Hedging Agreements; and 
     (xiv) the undischarged balance of any production payment created by 
     such Person or for the creation of which such Person directly or 
     indirectly received payment.

          "DEFAULT" shall mean an Event of Default or an event which with
     notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default.

          "DOLLARS" and "$" shall mean lawful money of the United States of
     America.

          "EFFECTIVE DATE" shall have the meaning assigned such term in
     Section 11.16.

          "ENGINEERING REPORTS" shall have the meaning assigned such term
     in Section 2.08.

          "ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS" shall mean any and all Governmental
     Requirements pertaining to health or the environment in effect in any
     and all jurisdictions in which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is
     conducting or at any time has conducted business, or where any
     Property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary is located, including
     without limitation, the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 ("OPA"), the Clean
     Air Act, as amended, the Comprehensive Environmental, Response,
     Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 ("CERCLA"), as amended, the
     Federal Water Pollution 

                                     -4-
<PAGE>

     Control Act, as amended, the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, 
     as amended, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 ("RCRA"), 
     as amended, the Safe Drinking Water Act, as amended, the Toxic 
     Substances Control Act, as amended, the Superfund Amendments and 
     Reauthorization Act of 1986, as amended, the Hazardous Materials 
     Transportation Act, as amended, and other environmental conservation or 
     protection laws.  The term "oil" shall have the meaning specified in 
     OPA, the terms "hazardous substance" and "release" (or "threatened 
     release") have the meanings specified in CERCLA, and the terms "solid 
     waste" and "disposal" (or "disposed") have the meanings specified in 
     RCRA; provided, however, that (i) in the event either OPA, CERCLA or 
     RCRA is amended so as to broaden the meaning of any term defined 
     thereby, such broader meaning shall apply subsequent to the effective 
     date of such amendment and (ii) to the extent the laws of the state in 
     which any Property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary is located 
     establish a meaning for "oil," "hazardous substance," "release," "solid 
     waste" or "disposal" which is broader than that specified in either OPA, 
     CERCLA or RCRA, such broader meaning shall apply.

          "ERISA" shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 
     1974, as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.

          "ERISA AFFILIATE" shall mean each trade or business (whether or not 
     incorporated) which together with the Borrower or any Subsidiary would 
     be deemed to be a "single employer" within the meaning of section 
     4001(b)(1) of ERISA or subsections (b), (c), (m) or (o) of section 414 
     of the Code.

          "ERISA EVENT" shall mean (i) a "Reportable Event" described in 
     Section 4043 of ERISA and the regulations issued thereunder, (ii) the 
     withdrawal of the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate from a 
     Plan during a plan year in which it was a "substantial employer" as 
     defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA, (iii) the filing of a notice of 
     intent to terminate a Plan or the treatment of a Plan amendment as a 
     termination under Section 4041 of ERISA, (iv) the institution of 
     proceedings to terminate a Plan by the PBGC or (v) any other event or 
     condition which might constitute grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for 
     the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any 
     Plan.

          "EVENT OF DEFAULT" shall have the meaning assigned such term in 
     Section 10.01.

          "EXCEPTED LIENS" shall mean:  (i) Liens for taxes, assessments or 
     other governmental charges or levies not yet due or which are being 
     contested in good faith by appropriate action and for which adequate 
     reserves have been maintained; (ii) Liens in connection with workmen's 
     compensation, unemployment insurance or other social security, old age 
     pension or public liability obligations not yet due or which are being 
     contested in good faith by appropriate action and for which adequate 
     reserves have been maintained in accordance with GAAP; (iii)

                                      -5-
<PAGE>

     operators', vendors', carriers', warehousemen's, repairmen's, 
     mechanics', workmen's, materialmen's, construction or other like Liens 
     arising by operation of law in the ordinary course of business or 
     incident to the exploration, development, production, operation and 
     maintenance of Oil and Gas Properties or statutory landlord's liens, 
     each of which is in respect of obligations that have not been 
     outstanding more than 90 days or which are being contested in good faith 
     by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been 
     maintained in accordance with GAAP; (iv) any Liens reserved in leases or 
     farmout agreements for rent or royalties and for compliance with the 
     terms of the farmout agreements or leases in the case of leasehold 
     estates, to the extent that any such Lien referred to in this clause 
     does not materially impair the use of the Property covered by such Lien 
     for the purposes for which such Property is held by the Borrower or any 
     Subsidiary or materially impair the value of such Property subject 
     thereto; (v) encumbrances (other than to secure the payment of borrowed 
     money or the deferred purchase price of Property or services), 
     easements, restrictions, servitudes, permits, conditions, covenants, 
     exceptions or reservations in any rights of way or other Property of the 
     Borrower or any Subsidiary for the purpose of roads, pipelines, 
     transmission lines, transportation lines, distribution lines for the 
     removal of gas, oil, coal or other minerals or timber, and other like 
     purposes, or for the joint or common use of real estate, rights of way, 
     facilities and equipment, and defects, irregularities, zoning 
     restrictions and deficiencies in title of any rights of way or other 
     Property which in the aggregate do not materially impair the use of such 
     rights of way or other Property for the purposes of which such rights of 
     way and other Property are held by the Borrower or any Subsidiary or 
     materially impair the value of such Property subject thereto; (vi) 
     deposits of cash or securities to secure the performance of bids, trade 
     contracts, leases, statutory obligations and other obligations of a like 
     nature incurred in the ordinary course of business; (vii) Liens 
     permitted by the Security Instruments; and (viii) Liens created by 
     operating leases which are permitted by Section 9.07.

          "EXISTING INDEBTEDNESS" shall mean the outstanding indebtedness 
     under the Existing Loan Agreement.

          "EXISTING LOAN AGREEMENT" shall mean that certain Loan Agreement
     dated as of October 14, 1993 between the Borrower and the Lender, as
     amended by that certain First Amendment to Loan Agreement dated as of
     December 20, 1993, that certain Second Amendment to Loan Agreement
     dated as of August 11, 1994, that certain Third Amendment to Loan
     Agreement dated as of December 29, 1994, that certain Fourth Amendment
     to Loan Agreement dated as of July 5, 1995 and that certain Fifth
     Amendment to Loan Agreement dated as of September 23, 1996.

          "FEDERAL FUNDS RATE" shall mean, for any day, the rate per annum
     (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) equal to
     the weighted average of the rates on overnight federal funds
     transactions with a member of the Federal Reserve System arranged by
     federal funds brokers on such day, as published by 

                                      -6-
<PAGE>

     the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day next succeeding 
     such day, provided that (i) if the date for which such rate is to be 
     determined is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day 
     shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business 
     Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day, and (ii) if 
     such rate is not so published for any day, the Federal Funds Rate for 
     such day shall be the average rate charged to the Lender on such day on 
     such transactions.

          "FINANCIAL STATEMENTS" shall mean the financial statement or 
     statements of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries described 
     or referred to in Section 7.02.

          "FIRST UNION CORPORATION" shall mean  First Union Corporation of
     North Carolina, a North Carolina corporation.

          "GAAP" shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the
     United States of America in effect from time to time.

          "GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY" shall include the country, the state, 
     county, city and political subdivisions in which any Person or such 
     Person's Property is located or which exercises valid jurisdiction over 
     any such Person or such Person's Property, and any court, agency, 
     department, commission, board, bureau or instrumentality of any of them 
     including monetary authorities which exercises valid jurisdiction over 
     any such Person or such Person's Property.  Unless otherwise specified, 
     all references to Governmental Authority herein shall mean a 
     Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over, where applicable, the 
     Borrower, its Subsidiaries or any of their Property or the Lender or any 
     Applicable Lending Office.

          "GOVERNMENTAL REQUIREMENT" shall mean any law, statute, code, 
     ordinance, order, determination, rule, regulation, judgment, decree, 
     injunction, franchise, permit, certificate, license, authorization or 
     other directive or requirement (whether or not having the force of law), 
     including, without limitation, Environmental Laws, energy regulations 
     and occupational, safety and health standards or controls, of any 
     Governmental Authority.

          "GUARANTORS" shall mean Midland Resources Operating, Inc. (formerly 
     known as Miresco, Inc.), a Texas corporation, MRI Acquisition  Corp., a 
     Texas corporation and any other Person, now or hereafter a Subsidiary of 
     the Borrower. 

          "GUARANTY AGREEMENTS" shall mean the agreements executed by the 
     Guarantors in form and substance satisfactory to the Lender guarantying, 
     unconditionally, payment of the Indebtedness, as the same may be 
     amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.

                                      -7-
<PAGE>

          "HEDGING AGREEMENTS" shall mean any commodity, interest rate or 
     currency swap, cap, floor, collar, forward agreement or other exchange 
     or protection agreements or any option with respect to any such 
     transaction.

          "HIGHEST LAWFUL RATE" shall mean the maximum nonusurious interest 
     rate, if any, that at any time or from time to time may be contracted 
     for, taken, reserved, charged or received on the Note or on other 
     Indebtedness under laws applicable to the Lender which are presently in 
     effect or, to the extent allowed by law, under such applicable laws 
     which may hereafter be in effect and which allow a higher maximum 
     nonusurious interest rate than applicable laws now allow.

          "HYDROCARBON INTERESTS" shall mean all rights, titles, interests 
     and estates now or hereafter acquired in and to oil and gas leases, oil, 
     gas and mineral leases, or other liquid or gaseous hydrocarbon leases, 
     mineral fee interests, overriding royalty and royalty interests, net 
     profit interests and production payment interests, including any 
     reserved or residual interests of whatever nature.

          "HYDROCARBONS" shall mean oil, gas, casinghead gas, drip gasoline, 
     natural gasoline, condensate, distillate, liquid hydrocarbons, gaseous 
     hydrocarbons and all products refined or separated therefrom.
     
          "INDEBTEDNESS" shall mean any and all amounts owing or to be owing 
     by the Borrower or any Subsidiary to the Lender in connection with the 
     Loan Documents and the Letter of Credit Agreements, and any Hedging 
     Agreement now or hereafter arising between the Borrower or any 
     Subsidiary and Lender and permitted by the terms of this Agreement and 
     all renewals, extensions and/or rearrangements of any of the above.
     
          "INDEMNIFIED PARTIES" shall have the meaning assigned such term in 
     Section 11.03(b).
     
          "INDEMNITY MATTERS" shall mean any and all actions, suits, 
     proceedings (including any investigations, litigation or inquiries), 
     claims, demands and causes of action made or threatened against a Person 
     and, in connection therewith, all losses, liabilities, damages 
     (including, without limitation, consequential damages) or reasonable 
     costs and expenses of any kind or nature whatsoever incurred by such 
     Person whether caused by the sole or concurrent negligence of such 
     Person seeking indemnification.
     
          "INITIAL FUNDING" shall mean the funding of the initial Loans or 
     issuance of the initial Letters of Credit pursuant to Section 6.01 
     hereof.
     
          "INITIAL RESERVE REPORT" shall mean the report prepared by the 
     Borrower,  dated September 6, 1996 with respect to the Oil and Gas 
     Properties of the 

                                      -8-
<PAGE>

     Borrower as of September 1, 1996, a copy of which has been delivered to 
     the Lender.

          "INTEREST PERIOD" shall mean, with respect to any LIBOR Loan, the 
     period commencing on the date such LIBOR Loan is made and ending on the 
     numerically corresponding day in the first, second or third calendar 
     month thereafter, as the Borrower may select as provided in Section 2.02 
     (or such longer period as may be requested by the Borrower and agreed to 
     by the Lender), except that each Interest Period which commences on the 
     last Business Day of a calendar month (or on any day for which there is 
     no numerically corresponding day in the appropriate subsequent calendar 
     month) shall end on the last Business Day of the appropriate subsequent 
     calendar month.

          Notwithstanding the foregoing:  (i) no Interest Period may commence 
     before and end after the Termination Date; (ii) no Interest Period for 
     any LIBOR Loan may end after the due date of any installment, if any, 
     provided for in Section 3.01 hereof to the extent that such LIBOR Loan 
     would need to be prepaid prior to the end of such Interest Period in 
     order for such installment to be paid when due; (iii) each Interest 
     Period which would otherwise end on a day which is not a Business Day 
     shall end on the next succeeding Business Day (or, if such next 
     succeeding Business Day falls in the next succeeding calendar month, on 
     the next preceding Business Day); and (iv) no Interest Period shall have 
     a duration of less than one month and, if the Interest Period for any 
     LIBOR Loans would otherwise be for a shorter period, such Loans shall 
     not be available hereunder.

          "LC COMMITMENT" at any time shall mean $1,000,000.

          "LC EXPOSURE" at any time shall mean the difference between (i) the 
     aggregate face amount of all undrawn and uncancelled Letters of Credit 
     and the aggregate of all amounts drawn under all Letters of Credit and 
     not yet reimbursed, minus (ii) the aggregate amount of all cash securing 
     outstanding Letters of Credit pursuant to Section 2.10(b).
     
          "LETTER OF CREDIT AGREEMENTS" shall mean the written agreements 
     with the Lender, as issuing lender for any Letter of Credit, executed or 
     hereafter executed in connection with the issuance by the Lender of the 
     Letters of Credit, such agreements to be on the Lender's customary form 
     for letters of credit of comparable amount and purpose as from time to 
     time in effect or as otherwise agreed to by the Borrower and the Lender.
     
          "LETTERS OF CREDIT" shall mean the letters of credit issued 
     pursuant to Section 2.01(b) and all reimbursement obligations pertaining 
     to any such letters of credit, and "Letter of Credit" shall mean any one 
     of the Letters of Credit and the reimbursement obligations pertaining 
     thereto.

                                      -9-
<PAGE>

          "LIBOR" shall mean the rate of interest determined on the basis of 
     the rate for deposits in Dollars for a period equal to the applicable 
     Interest Period commencing on the first day of such Interest Period 
     appearing on Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) two (2) 
     Business Days prior to the first day of the applicable Interest Period.  
     In the event that such rate does not appear on Telerate Page 3750, 
     "LIBOR" shall be determined by the Agent to be the rate per annum at 
     which deposits in Dollars are offered by leading reference banks in the 
     London interbank market to First Union at approximately 11:00 a.m. 
     (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of the applicable 
     Interest Period for a period equal to such Interest Period and in an 
     amount substantially equal to the amount of the applicable Loan.
     
          "LIBOR LOANS" shall mean Loans the interest rates on which are 
     determined on the basis of rates referred to in the definition of "LIBOR 
     Rate".
     
          "LIBOR RATE" shall mean, with respect to any LIBOR Loan, a rate per 
     annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) 
     determined by the Lender to be equal to the quotient of (i) LIBOR for 
     such Loan for the Interest Period for such Loan divided by (ii) 1 minus 
     the Reserve Requirement for such Loan for such Interest Period.
     
          "LIEN" shall mean any interest in Property securing an obligation 
     owed to, or a claim by, a Person other than the owner of the Property, 
     whether such interest is based on the common law, statute or contract, 
     and whether such obligation or claim is fixed or contingent, and 
     including but not limited to (i) the lien or security interest arising 
     from a mortgage, encumbrance, pledge, security agreement, conditional 
     sale or trust receipt or a lease, consignment or bailment for security 
     purposes or (ii) production payments and the like payable out of Oil and 
     Gas Properties.  The term "LIEN" shall include reservations, exceptions, 
     encroachments, easements, rights of way, covenants, conditions, 
     restrictions, leases and other title exceptions and encumbrances 
     affecting Property.  For the purposes of this Agreement, the Borrower or 
     any Subsidiary shall be deemed to be the owner of any Property which it 
     has acquired or holds subject to a conditional sale agreement, or leases 
     under a financing lease or other arrangement pursuant to which title to 
     the Property has been retained by or vested in some other Person in a 
     transaction intended to create a financing.
     
          "LOAN DOCUMENTS" shall mean this Agreement, the Note and the 
     Security Instruments.
     
          "LOANS" shall mean Base Rate Loans or LIBOR Loans.

          "MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT" shall mean any material and adverse 
     effect on (i) the assets, liabilities, financial condition, business, 
     operations or affairs of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a 
     whole as reflected in the Financial 

                                      -10-
<PAGE>

     Statements or from the facts represented or warranted in this Agreement 
     or any Security Instrument, or (ii) the ability of the Borrower and its 
     Subsidiaries taken as a whole to carry out their business as at the 
     Closing Date or as proposed as of the Closing Date to be conducted or 
     meet their obligations under the Loan Documents on a timely basis.
     
          "MORTGAGED PROPERTY" shall mean the Property owned by the Borrower 
     and which is subject to the Liens existing and to exist under the terms 
     of the Security Instruments.
     
          "MULTIEMPLOYER PLAN" shall mean a Plan defined as such in Section 
     3(37) or 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.
     
          "NOTE" shall mean the Note provided for by Section 2.06, together 
     with any and all renewals, extensions for any period, increases, 
     rearrangements, substitutions or modifications thereof.
     
          "OIL AND GAS PROPERTIES" shall mean Hydrocarbon Interests; the 
     Properties now or hereafter pooled or unitized with Hydrocarbon 
     Interests; all presently existing or future unitization, pooling 
     agreements and declarations of pooled units and the units created 
     thereby (including without limitation all units created under orders, 
     regulations and rules of any Governmental Authority) which may affect 
     all or any portion of the Hydrocarbon Interests; all operating 
     agreements, contracts and other agreements which relate to any of the 
     Hydrocarbon Interests or the production, sale, purchase, exchange or 
     processing of Hydrocarbons from or attributable to such Hydrocarbon 
     Interests; all Hydrocarbons in and under and which may be produced and 
     saved or attributable to the Hydrocarbon Interests, including all oil in 
     tanks, the lands covered thereby and all rents, issues, profits, 
     proceeds, products, revenues and other incomes from or attributable to 
     the Hydrocarbon Interests; all tenements, hereditaments, appurtenances 
     and Properties in any manner appertaining, belonging, affixed or 
     incidental to the Hydrocarbon Interests; and all Properties, rights, 
     titles, interests and estates described or referred to above, including 
     any and all Property, real or personal, now owned or hereinafter 
     acquired and situated upon, used, held for use or useful in connection 
     with the operating, working or development of any of such Hydrocarbon 
     Interests or Property (excluding drilling rigs, automotive equipment or 
     other personal property which may be on such premises for the purpose of 
     drilling a well or for other similar temporary uses) and including any 
     and all oil wells, gas wells, injection wells or other wells, buildings, 
     structures, fuel separators, liquid extraction plants, plant 
     compressors, pumps, pumping units, field gathering systems, tanks and 
     tank batteries, fixtures, valves, fittings, machinery and parts, 
     engines, boilers, meters, apparatus, equipment, appliances, tools, 
     implements, cables, wires, towers, casing, tubing and rods, surface 
     leases, rights-of-way, easements and servitudes together with all 
     additions, substitutions, replacements, accessions and attachments to 
     any and all of the foregoing.

                                      -11-
<PAGE>

          "OTHER TAXES" shall have the meaning assigned such term in Section 
     4.04(b).
     
          "PBGC" shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any 
     entity succeeding to any or all of its functions.
     
          "PERSON" shall mean any individual, corporation, company, voluntary 
     association, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated 
     organization or government or any agency, instrumentality or political 
     subdivision thereof, or any other form of entity.
     
          "PLAN" shall mean any employee pension benefit plan, as defined in 
     Section 3(2) of ERISA, which (i) is currently or hereafter sponsored, 
     maintained or contributed to by the Borrower, any Subsidiary or an ERISA 
     Affiliate or (ii) was at any time during the preceding six calendar 
     years, sponsored, maintained or contributed to, by the Borrower, any 
     Subsidiary or an ERISA Affiliate.
     
          "POST-DEFAULT RATE" shall mean, in respect of any principal of any 
     Loan or any other amount payable by the Borrower under this Agreement or 
     the Note which is not paid when due, a rate per annum during the period 
     commencing on the date of an Event of Default until such amount is paid 
     in full or all Events of Default are cured or waived equal to 2% per 
     annum above the Base Rate as in effect from time to time plus the 
     Applicable Margin (if any), but in no event to exceed the Highest Lawful 
     Rate provided that, for a LIBOR Loan, the "Post-Default Rate" for such 
     principal shall be, for the period commencing on the date of the Event 
     of Default and ending on the earlier to occur of the last day of the 
     Interest Period therefor or the date all Events of Default are cured or 
     waived, 2% per annum above the interest rate for such Loan as provided 
     in Section 3.02(ii), but in no event to exceed the Highest Lawful Rate.
     
          "PRIME RATE" shall mean the rate of interest from time to time 
     announced publicly by the Lender at the Principal Office as its prime 
     commercial lending rate.  Such rate is set by the Lender as a general 
     reference rate of interest, taking into account such factors as the 
     Lender  may deem appropriate, it being understood that many of the 
     Lender's commercial or other loans are priced in relation to such rate, 
     that it is not necessarily the lowest or best rate actually charged to 
     any customer and that the Lender may make various commercial or other 
     loans at rates of interest having no relationship to such rate.
     
          "PRINCIPAL OFFICE" shall mean the principal office of the Lender, 
     presently located at 301 South College Street, TW-10, Charlotte, North 
     Carolina  28288-0608 or such other location as designated by the Lender 
     from time to time.
     
          "PROPERTY" shall mean any interest in any kind of property or 
     asset, whether real, personal or mixed, or tangible or intangible.
     
                                      -12-
<PAGE>

          "QUARTERLY DATES" shall mean the last day of each March, June, 
     September, and December, in each year, the first of which shall be 
     December 31, 1996; provided, however, that if any such day is not a 
     Business Day, such Quarterly Date shall be the next succeeding Business 
     Day.
     
          "REDETERMINATION DATE" shall have the meaning assigned such term in 
     Section 2.08(a).
     
          "REGULATION D" shall mean Regulation D of the Board of Governors of 
     the Federal Reserve System (or any successor), as the same may be 
     amended or supplemented from time to time.
     
          "REGULATORY CHANGE" shall mean any change after the Closing Date in 
     any Governmental Requirement (including Regulation D) or the adoption or 
     making after such date of any interpretations, directives or requests 
     applying to a class of lenders (including the Lender or its Applicable 
     Lending Office) of or under any Governmental Requirement (whether or not 
     having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority charged with the 
     interpretation or administration thereof.
     
          "RESERVE REPORT" shall mean a report, in form and substance 
     satisfactory to the Lender, setting forth, as of each June 30 (or such 
     other date in the event of an unscheduled redetermination); (i) the oil 
     and gas reserves attributable to the Borrower's and Guarantors' Oil and 
     Gas Properties together with a projection of the rate of production and 
     future net income, taxes, operating expenses and capital expenditures 
     with respect thereto as of such date, based upon the pricing assumptions 
     consistent with SEC reporting requirements at the time and (ii) such 
     other information as the Lender may reasonably request.  The term 
     "Reserve Report" shall also include the information to be provided by 
     the Borrower as of  December 31 of each year pursuant to Section 8.07(a).
     
          "RESPONSIBLE OFFICER" shall mean, as to any Person, the Chief 
     Executive Officer, the President or any Vice President of such Person 
     and, with respect to financial matters, the term "Responsible Officer" 
     shall include the Chief Financial Officer of such Person.  Unless 
     otherwise specified, all references to a Responsible Officer herein 
     shall mean a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.
     
          "SCHEDULED REDETERMINATION DATE" shall have the meaning assigned 
     such term in Section 2.08(d).
     
          "SEC" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission or any 
     successor Governmental Authority.
     
          "SECURITY INSTRUMENTS" shall mean the Letters of Credit, the Letter 
     of Credit Agreements, the agreements or instruments described or 
     referred to in Exhibit E, and any and all other agreements or 
     instruments now or hereafter executed and 

                                      -13-
<PAGE>

     delivered by the Borrower or any other Person (other than participation 
     or similar agreements between the Lender and any other lender or 
     creditor with respect to any Indebtedness pursuant to this Agreement) in 
     connection with, or as security for the payment or performance of the 
     Note or  this Agreement, or reimbursement obligations under the Letters 
     of Credit, as such agreements may be amended, supplemented or restated 
     from time to time.
     
          "SPECIAL ENTITY" shall mean any joint venture, limited liability 
     company or partnership, general or limited partnership or any other type 
     of partnership or company other than a corporation in which the Borrower 
     or one or more of its other Subsidiaries is a member, owner, partner or 
     joint venturer and owns, directly or indirectly, at least a majority of 
     the equity of such entity or controls such entity, but excluding any tax 
     partnerships that are not classified as partnerships under state law.  
     For purposes of this definition, any Person which owns directly or 
     indirectly an equity investment in another Person which allows the first 
     Person to manage or elect managers who manage the normal activities of 
     such second Person will be deemed to "control" such second Person (E.G. 
     a sole general partner controls a limited partnership).
     
          "SUBSIDIARY" shall mean (i) any corporation of which at least a 
     majority of the outstanding shares of stock having by the terms thereof 
     ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors of 
     such corporation (irrespective of whether or not at the time stock of 
     any other class or classes of such corporation shall have or might have 
     voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the 
     time directly or indirectly owned or controlled by the Borrower or one 
     or more of its Subsidiaries or by the Borrower and one or more of its 
     Subsidiaries and (ii) any Special Entity. Unless otherwise indicated 
     herein, each reference to the term "Subsidiary" shall mean a Subsidiary 
     of the Borrower; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, such term shall not include Summit 
     until the Summit Acquisition has occurred.
     
          "SUMMIT" means Summit Petroleum Corporation, a Colorado corporation.
     
          "SUMMIT ACQUISITION" shall mean the acquisition described in 
     Section 8.13.
     
          "TANGIBLE NET WORTH" shall mean, as at any date, the sum of the 
     following for the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries determined 
     (without duplication) in accordance with GAAP:
     
          (i)  the amount of preferred stock and common stock at par plus the 
     amount of the additional paid in capital of the Borrower, PLUS
     
          (ii) the retained earnings (or, in the case of a retained earnings 
     deficit, MINUS the amount of such deficit), MINUS

                                      -14-

<PAGE>

          (iii)     the sum of the following:  cost of treasury shares and
     the book value of all assets of the Borrower and its Consolidated
     Subsidiaries which should be classified as intangibles (without
     duplication of deductions in respect of items already deducted in
     arriving at surplus and retained earnings) excluding intangibles
     arising directly from oil and gas drilling, but in any event including
     as such intangibles the following:  goodwill, research and development
     costs, trademarks, trade names, copyrights, patents and franchises,
     unamortized debt discount and expense, all reserves and any writeup in
     the book value of assets resulting from a revaluation thereof or
     resulting from any changes in GAAP subsequent to December 31, 1995.

          "TAXES" shall have the meaning assigned such term in
     Section 4.04(a).

          "TERMINATION DATE" shall mean, unless the Commitment is sooner
     terminated pursuant to Sections 2.03(b) or 10.02 hereof, October 31,
     2000.

          "TYPE" shall mean, with respect to any Loan, a Base Rate Loan or
     a LIBOR Loan.

          Section 1.03  ACCOUNTING TERMS AND DETERMINATIONS.  Unless 
otherwise specified herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be 
interpreted, all determinations with respect to accounting matters hereunder 
shall be made, and all financial statements and certificates and reports as 
to financial matters required to be furnished to the Lender hereunder shall 
be prepared, in accordance with GAAP, applied on a basis consistent with the 
audited financial statements of the Borrower referred to in Section 7.02 
(except for changes concurred with by the Borrower's independent public 
accountants).

                                   ARTICLE II

                                   COMMITMENTS

          Section 2.01  LOAN AND LETTERS OF CREDIT.

          (a)  LOANS.  The Lender agrees, on the terms of this Agreement, to
     make Loans to the Borrower during the period from and including the Closing
     Date to and up to, but excluding, the Termination Date in an aggregate
     principal amount at any one time outstanding up to but not exceeding the
     amount of the Commitment as then in effect; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the
     aggregate principal amount of all such Loans by the Lender hereunder at any
     one time outstanding together with the LC Exposure shall not exceed the
     Commitment.  Subject to the terms of this Agreement, during the period from
     the Closing Date to and up to, but excluding, the Termination Date, the
     Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow the amount described in this
     Section 2.01(a).

          (b)  LETTERS OF CREDIT.  During the period from and including the
     Closing Date but excluding the Termination Date, the Lender agrees to
     extend credit for the account 


                                  -15-
<PAGE>

     of the Borrower or any Subsidiary at any time and from time to time by 
     issuing renewing extending or reissuing Letters of Credit; provided 
     however, the LC Exposure at any one time outstanding shall not exceed the 
     lesser of (i) the LC Commitment or (ii) the Commitment, as then in effect, 
     minus the aggregate principal amount of all Loans then outstanding.

          (c)  LIMITATION ON TYPES OF LOANS.  Subject to the other terms and
     provisions of this Agreement, at the option of the Borrower, the Loans may
     be Base Rate Loans or LIBOR Loans; provided that no more than three (3)
     LIBOR Loans may be outstanding at any time.

          Section 2.02  BORROWINGS, CONTINUATIONS, CONVERSIONS AND LETTERS OF
CREDIT.

          (a)  BORROWINGS.  The Borrower shall give the Lender advance notice as
     hereinafter provided of each borrowing hereunder, which shall specify the
     aggregate amount of such borrowing, the Type and the date (which shall be a
     Business Day) of the Loans to be borrowed and (in the case of LIBOR Loans)
     the duration of the Interest Period therefor.

          (b)  MINIMUM AMOUNTS.  If the initial borrowing consists in whole or
     in part of LIBOR Loans, such LIBOR Loans shall be in amounts of at least
     $1,000,000 or any whole multiple of $10,000 in excess thereof.

          (c)  NOTICES.  All borrowings, continuations and conversions shall
     require advance written notice to the Lender in the form of Exhibit B
     hereto (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed by such a written notice),
     which in each case shall be irrevocable, from the Borrower to be received
     by the Lender not later than 11:00 a.m. Charlotte, North Carolina time at
     least one Business Day prior to the date of each Base Rate Loan borrowing
     and three Business Days prior to the date of each LIBOR Loan borrowing,
     continuation or conversion.  Without in any way limiting the Borrower's
     obligation to confirm in writing any telephonic notice, the Lender may act
     without liability upon the basis of telephonic notice believed by the
     Lender in good faith to be from the Borrower prior to receipt of written
     confirmation.  In each such case, the Borrower hereby waives the right to
     dispute the Lender's record of the terms of such telephonic notice except
     in the case of gross negligence or willful misconduct by the Lender.

          (d)  CONTINUATION OPTIONS.  Subject to the provisions made in this
     Section 2.02(d), the Borrower may elect to continue all or any part of any
     LIBOR Loan beyond the expiration of the then current Interest Period
     relating thereto by giving advance notice as provided in Section 2.02(c) to
     the Lender of such election, specifying the amount of such Loan to be
     continued and the Interest Period therefor.  In the absence of such a
     timely and proper election, the Borrower shall be deemed to have elected to
     convert such LIBOR Loan to a Base Rate Loan pursuant to Section 2.02(e). 
     All or any part of any LIBOR Loan may be continued as provided herein,
     provided that (i) any continuation of any such Loan shall be (as to each
     Loan as continued for an applicable 


                                  -16-
<PAGE>

     Interest Period) in amounts of at least $1,000,000 or any whole multiple 
     of $10,000 in excess thereof and (ii) no Default shall have occurred and 
     be continuing.  If a Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each 
     LIBOR Loan shall be converted to a Base Rate Loan on the last day of the 
     Interest Period applicable thereto.

          (e)  CONVERSION OPTIONS.  The Borrower may elect to convert all or any
     part of any LIBOR Loan on the last day of the then current Interest Period
     relating thereto to a Base Rate Loan by giving advance notice to the Lender
     of such election.  Subject to the provisions made in this Section 2.02(e),
     the Borrower may elect to convert all or any part of any Base Rate Loan at
     any time and from time to time to a LIBOR Loan by giving advance notice as
     provided in Section 2.02(c) to the Lender of such election.  All or any
     part of any outstanding Loan may be converted as provided herein, provided
     that (i) any conversion of any Base Rate Loan into a LIBOR Loan shall be
     (as to each such Loan into which there is a conversion for an applicable
     Interest Period) in amounts of at least $1,000,000 or any whole multiple of
     $10,000 in excess thereof and (ii) no Default shall have occurred and be
     continuing.  If no Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Base
     Rate Loan may be converted into a LIBOR Loan.

          (f)  ADVANCES.  Not later than 11:00 a.m. Charlotte, North Carolina
     time on the date specified for each borrowing hereunder, the Lender shall
     make available the amount of the  Loans to be made on such date in
     immediately available funds, for the account of the Borrower.  The amount
     shall, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, be made
     available to the Borrower by transferring the same, in immediately
     available funds, to an account of the Borrower, designated by the Borrower
     and maintained at the Principal Office.

          (g)  LETTERS OF CREDIT.  The Borrower shall give the Lender advance
     notice to be received by the Lender not later than 11:00 a.m. Charlotte,
     North Carolina time not less than three (3) Business Days prior thereto of
     each request for the issuance and at least thirty (30) Business Days prior
     to the date of the renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit hereunder
     which request shall specify the amount of such Letter of Credit, the date
     (which shall be a Business Day) such Letter of Credit is to be issued,
     renewed or extended, the duration thereof, the name and address of the
     beneficiary thereof and such other information as the Lender may reasonably
     request all of which shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Lender. 
     Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, on the date
     specified for the issuance, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit, the
     Lender shall issue such Letter of Credit to the beneficiary thereof.

          In conjunction with the issuance of each Letter of Credit, the
     Borrower and the Subsidiary, if the account party, shall execute a Letter
     of Credit Agreement.  In the event of any conflict between any provision of
     a Letter of Credit Agreement and this Agreement, the Borrower and the
     Lender hereby agree that the provisions of this Agreement shall govern.


                                  -17-
<PAGE>

          The Lender will send to the Borrower, immediately upon issuance of any
     Letter of Credit, or an amendment thereto, a true and complete copy of such
     Letter of Credit, or such amendment thereto.

          Section 2.03  CHANGES OF COMMITMENT.

          (a)  The Commitment shall at all times be equal to the lesser of
     (i) $20,000,000 or (ii) the Borrowing Base as determined from time to time.

          (b)  The Borrower shall have the right to terminate or to reduce the
     amount of the Commitment at any time or from time to time upon not less
     than three (3) Business Days' prior notice to the Lender of each such
     termination or reduction, which notice shall specify the effective date
     thereof and the amount of any such reduction (which shall not be less than
     $1,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof) and shall
     be irrevocable and effective only upon receipt by the Lender.

          (c)  The Commitment once terminated or reduced may not be reinstated. 

          Section 2.04  FEES.

          (a)  The Borrower shall pay to the Lender a commitment fee on the
     daily average unused amount of the Commitment for the period from and
     including the Closing Date up to but excluding the earlier of the date the
     Commitment is terminated or the Termination Date, at a rate per annum equal
     to one-half of one percent (1/2 of 1%).  Accrued commitment fees shall be
     payable quarterly in arrears on each Quarterly Date and on the earlier of
     the date the Commitment is terminated or the Termination Date.

          (b)  The Borrower agrees to pay the Lender commissions for issuing the
     Letters of Credit on the daily average outstanding of the maximum liability
     of the Lender existing from time to time under such Letter of Credit
     (calculated separately for each Letter of Credit) at the rate of one and
     one-half of one percent (1-1/2%) per annum, provided that each Letter of
     Credit shall bear a minimum commission of $350.  Each Letter of Credit
     shall be deemed to be outstanding up to the full face amount of the Letter
     of Credit until the Lender has received the cancelled Letter of Credit or a
     written cancellation of the Letter of Credit from the beneficiary of such
     Letter of Credit in form and substance acceptable to the Lender or for any
     reductions in the amount of the Letter of Credit (other than from a
     drawing), written notification from the beneficiary of such Letter of
     Credit.  Such commissions are payable in advance at issuance of the Letter
     of Credit or quarterly in arrears on each Quarterly Date as agreed to with
     the Lender upon issuance of each Letter of Credit.    

          (c)  Upon each amendment or transfer of any Letter of Credit to a
     successor beneficiary in accordance with its terms, the Borrower shall pay
     the sum of $75 to the Lender.


                                  -18-
<PAGE>

          (d)  The Borrowers agree to pay facility fees to the Lender which
     shall be payable on the date of any increase of the Borrowing Base above
     the then current Borrowing Base and shall be equal to 1% of each
     incremental increase of the Borrowing Base.  All such facility fees are
     non-refundable.

          Section 2.05  LENDING OFFICES.  The Loans of each Type shall be made
and maintained at the Lender's Applicable Lending Office for Loans of such Type.

          Section 2.06  NOTE. The Loans shall be evidenced by a single 
promissory note of the Borrower in substantially the form of Exhibit A 
hereto, dated the Closing Date, payable to the order of the Lender in a 
principal amount equal to the Commitment and otherwise duly completed.  The 
date, amount, Type, interest rate and Interest Period of each Loan and all 
payments made on account of the principal thereof, shall be recorded by the 
Lender on its books for the Note, and, prior to any transfer, may be endorsed 
by the Lender on a schedule attached to such Note or any continuation thereof 
or on any separate record maintained by the Lender.  Failure to make any such 
notation or attach a schedule shall not affect the Lender's or the Borrower's 
rights or obligations in respect of the Loans or affect the validity of such 
transfer by the Lender of the Note. 

          Section 2.07  PREPAYMENTS.

          (a)  The Borrower may prepay the Base Rate Loans upon not less than
     one (1) Business Day's prior notice to the Lender, which notice shall
     specify the prepayment date (which shall be a Business Day) and the amount
     of the prepayment (which shall be at least $50,000 or the remaining
     principal balance outstanding on the Note) and shall be irrevocable and
     effective only upon receipt by the Lender, provided that interest on the
     principal prepaid, accrued to the prepayment date, shall be paid on the
     prepayment date.  The Borrower may not prepay any LIBOR Loans prior to the
     end of an Interest Period (provided that this sentence shall not affect the
     Borrower's obligation to prepay Loans pursuant to Sections 2.07(b) or (c)
     or Section 10.01 hereof).

          (b)  If, after giving effect to any termination or reduction of the
     Commitment pursuant to Section 2.03(b), the outstanding aggregate principal
     amount of the Loans plus the LC Exposure exceeds the Commitment, the
     Borrower shall (i) prepay the Loans on the date of such termination or
     reduction in an aggregate principal amount equal to the excess, together
     with interest on the principal amount paid accrued to the date of such
     prepayment and (ii) if any excess remains after prepaying all of the Loans,
     pay to the Lender an amount equal to the excess to be held as cash
     collateral as provided in Section 2.10(b) hereof.

          (c)  Upon any redetermination of the amount of the Borrowing Base in
     accordance with Section 2.08, if the redetermined Borrowing Base is less
     than the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Loans plus the LC
     Exposure, then the Borrower shall within thirty (30) days of receipt of
     written notice thereof: (i) prepay the Loans in an aggregate principal
     amount equal to such excess, together with interest on the 


                                  -19-
<PAGE>

     principal amount paid accrued to the date of such prepayment and (ii) if 
     a Borrowing Base deficiency remains after prepaying all of the Loans 
     because of LC Exposure, the Borrower shall pay to the Lender an amount 
     equal to such Borrowing Base deficiency to be held as cash collateral 
     as provided in Section 2.10(b) hereof.

          (d)  Upon any reduction pursuant to Schedule I, if the Borrowing Base
     is less than the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Loans plus
     the LC Exposure, then the Borrower shall on the date of such reduction
     prepay the Loans by the amount of such excess, together with interest
     thereon accrued to the date of such prepayment.

          (e)  Prepayments permitted or required under this Section 2.07 shall
     be without premium or penalty, except as required under Section 5.05 for
     prepayment of LIBOR Loans.  Any prepayment made may be reborrowed subject
     to the then effective Commitment.

          Section 2.08  BORROWING BASE.

          (a)  During the period from and after the Closing Date until the
     Borrowing Base is redetermined pursuant to this Section 2.08 or adjusted
     pursuant to Section 8.08(c), the amount of the Borrowing Base shall be
     $9,500,000, such Borrowing Base to reduce monthly as provided in Schedule
     I; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, until the Summit Acquisition occurs, $310,542 of the
     Borrowing Base shall be unavailable except for use in consummating the
     Summit Acquisition. The Borrowing Base shall be determined in accordance
     with Section 2.08(b) by the Lender and is subject to redetermination in
     accordance with Section 2.08(d).  Upon any redetermination of the Borrowing
     Base, such redetermination shall remain in effect subject to the reductions
     as set forth in the then effective Schedule I until the next successive
     Redetermination Date.  "REDETERMINATION DATE" shall mean the date that the
     redetermined Borrowing Base becomes effective subject to the notice
     requirements specified in Section 2.08(e) both for scheduled
     redeterminations and unscheduled redeterminations.  So long as the
     Commitment is in effect or any LC Exposure or Loans are outstanding
     hereunder, this facility shall be governed by the then effective Borrowing
     Base and Schedule I. 

          (b)  Upon receipt of the reports required by Section 8.07 and such
     other reports, data and supplemental information as may from time to time
     be reasonably requested by the Lender (the "ENGINEERING REPORTS"), the
     Lender will promptly redetermine the Borrowing Base and Schedule I.  Such
     redetermination will be in accordance with its normal and customary
     procedures for evaluating oil and gas reserves and other related assets as
     such exist at that particular time.   The Lender may, in its sole
     discretion, make adjustments to the rates, volumes and prices and other
     assumptions set forth therein in accordance with its normal and customary
     procedures for evaluating oil and gas reserves and other related assets as
     such exist at that particular time.

          (c)  The Lender may exclude any Oil and Gas Property or portion of
     production therefrom or any income from any other Property from the
     Borrowing Base, at any time, 


                                  -20-
<PAGE>

     because title information is not reasonably satisfactory, such Property is 
     not Mortgaged Property or such Property is not assignable.

          (d)  So long as the Commitment is in effect and until payment in full
     of all Loans hereunder, on or around the fifteenth Business Day of each
     March and September, commencing March 15, 1997 (each being a "SCHEDULED
     REDETERMINATION DATE"), the Lender shall redetermine the amount of the
     Borrowing Base in accordance with Section 2.08(b).  In addition, the Lender
     may initiate a redetermination of the Borrowing Base at any other time as
     it so elects; provided, however, that the Lender may initiate only one such
     unscheduled redetermination between any two Scheduled Redetermination Dates
     by specifying in writing to the Borrower the date on which the Borrower is
     to furnish a Reserve Report in accordance with Section 8.07(b) and the date
     on which such redetermination is to occur.  In addition, the Borrower may
     request additional  Borrowing Base reviews between any two Scheduled
     Redetermination Dates.

          (e)  The Lender shall promptly notify in writing the Borrower of the
     new Borrowing Base and each new Schedule I.  Any new Borrowing Base and
     substitute Schedule I shall be effective without the necessity of the
     Borrower's consent or signature. Any redetermination of the Borrowing Base
     shall not be in effect until written notice is received by the Borrower.

          Section 2.09  ASSUMPTION OF RISKS.  The Borrower assume all risks 
of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary of any Letter of Credit or any 
transferee thereof with respect to its use of such Letter of Credit.  Neither 
the Lender (except in the case of willful misconduct or gross negligence on 
the part of the Lender or any of its employees) nor its correspondents shall 
be responsible for the validity, sufficiency or genuineness of certificates 
or other documents or any endorsements thereon, even if such certificates or 
other documents should in fact prove to be invalid, insufficient, fraudulent 
or forged; for errors, omissions, interruptions or delays in transmissions or 
delivery of any messages by mail, telex, or otherwise, whether or not they be 
in code; for errors in translation or for errors in interpretation of 
technical terms; the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring 
or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign any Letter of Credit or the 
rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which 
may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason; the failure of any 
beneficiary or any transferee of any Letter of Credit to comply fully with 
conditions required in order to draw upon any Letter of Credit; or for any 
other consequences arising from causes beyond the Lender's control or the 
control of its correspondents. In addition, the Lender shall not be 
responsible for any error, neglect, or default of any of its correspondents; 
and none of the above shall affect, impair or prevent the vesting of the 
Lender's or its rights or powers hereunder or under the Letter of Credit 
Agreements, all of which rights shall be cumulative. The Lender and its 
correspondents may accept certificates or other documents that appear on 
their face to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation 
of any matter contained therein regardless of any notice or information to 
the contrary.  In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing 
provisions, the Borrower agrees that any action, inaction or omission taken 
or not taken by the Lender or by any correspondent for the Lender in good 
faith in connection with any Letter of Credit, or any 


                                  -21-
<PAGE>

related drafts, certificates, documents or instruments, shall be binding on 
the Borrower and shall not put the Lender or its correspondents under any 
resulting liability to the Borrower.

          Section 2.10  OBLIGATION TO REIMBURSE AND TO PREPAY.

          (a)  If a disbursement by the Lender is made under any Letter of
     Credit, the Borrower shall pay to the Lender within two (2) Business Days
     after notice of any such disbursement is received by the Borrower, the
     amount of each such disbursement made by the Lender under the Letter of
     Credit (if such payment is not sooner effected as may be required under
     this Section 2.10 of this Agreement or under other provisions of the Letter
     of Credit) together with interest on the amount disbursed from and
     including the date of disbursement until payment in full of such disbursed
     amount at a varying rate per annum equal to (i) the then applicable
     interest rate for Base Rate Loans through the second Business Day after
     notice of such disbursement is received by the Borrower and (ii) the Post-
     Default Rate for Base Rate Loans (but in no event to exceed the Highest
     Lawful Rate) for the period from and including the third Business Day
     following the date of such disbursement to and including the date of
     repayment in full of such disbursed amount.  The obligations of the
     Borrower under this Agreement and each Letter of Credit shall be absolute,
     unconditional and irrevocable and shall be paid or performed strictly in
     accordance with the terms of this Agreement under all circumstances
     whatsoever, including, without limitation, but only to the fullest extent
     permitted by applicable law, the following circumstances: (i) any lack of
     validity or enforceability of this Agreement, any Letter of Credit or any
     of the Security Instruments; (ii) any amendment or waiver of (including any
     default), or any consent to departure from this Agreement (except to the
     extent permitted by any amendment or waiver), any Letter of Credit or any
     of the Security Instruments; (iii) the existence of any claim, set-off,
     defense or other rights which the Borrower may have at any time against the
     beneficiary of any Letter of Credit or any transferee of any Letter of
     Credit (or any Persons for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee
     may be acting), the Lender or any other Person, whether in connection with
     this Agreement, any Letter of Credit, the Security Instruments, the 
     transactions contemplated hereby or any unrelated transaction; (iv) any
     statement, certificate, draft, notice or any other document presented under
     any Letter of Credit proves to have been forged, fraudulent, insufficient
     or invalid in any respect or any statement therein proves to have been
     untrue or inaccurate in any respect whatsoever; (v) payment by the Lender
     under any Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or certificate
     which appears on its face to comply, but does not comply, with the terms of
     such Letter of Credit; and (vi) any other circumstance or happening
     whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing.

     Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Borrower
     will not be liable for payment or performance that results from the gross
     negligence or willful misconduct of the Lender, except (i) where the
     Borrower or any Subsidiary actually recovers the proceeds for itself or the
     Lender of any payment made by the Lender in connection with such gross
     negligence or willful misconduct or (ii) in cases where the Lender makes
     payment to the named beneficiary of a Letter of Credit.


                                  -22-
<PAGE>

          (b)  In the event of the occurrence of any Event of Default, a payment
     or prepayment pursuant to Sections 2.07(b) and (c) hereof or the maturity
     of the Note, whether by acceleration or otherwise, an amount equal to the
     LC Exposure shall be deemed to be forthwith due and owing by the Borrower
     to the Lender as of the date of any such occurrence; and the Borrower's
     obligation to pay such amount shall be absolute and unconditional, without
     regard to whether any beneficiary of any such Letter of Credit has
     attempted to draw down all or a portion of such amount under the terms of a
     Letter of Credit, and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law,
     shall not be subject to any defense or be affected by a right of set-off,
     counterclaim or recoupment which the Borrower may now or hereafter have
     against any such beneficiary, the Lender or any other Person for any reason
     whatsoever.  Such payments shall be held by the Lender as cash collateral
     securing the LC Exposure in an account or accounts at the Principal Office;
     and the Borrower hereby grants to and by its deposit with the Lender grants
     to the Lender a security interest in such cash collateral.  In the event of
     any such payment by the Borrower of amounts contingently owing under
     outstanding Letters of Credit and in the event that thereafter drafts or
     other demands for payment complying with the terms of such Letters of
     Credit are not made prior to the respective expiration dates thereof, the
     Lender agrees, if no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or if
     no other amounts are outstanding under any of the Loan Documents, to remit
     to the Borrower amounts for which the contingent obligations evidenced by
     the Letters of Credit have ceased.

          (c)  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if no
     Default has occurred and is continuing and subject to availability under
     the Commitment (after reduction for LC Exposure), to the extent the
     Borrower has not reimbursed the Lender for any drawn upon Letter of Credit
     within two (2) Business Days after notice of such disbursement has been
     received by the Borrower, the amount of such Letter of Credit reimbursement
     obligation shall automatically be funded by the Lender as a Base Rate Loan
     hereunder and used by the Lender to pay such Letter of Credit reimbursement
     obligation.  If a Default has occurred and is continuing, or if the funding
     of such Letter of Credit reimbursement obligation as a Base Rate Loan would
     cause the aggregate amount of all Loans outstanding to exceed the
     Commitment (after reduction for LC Exposure), such Letter of Credit
     reimbursement obligation shall not be funded as a Base Rate Loan, but
     instead shall accrue interest as provided in Section 2.10(a).



                                   ARTICLE III

                       PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST

          Section 3.01  REPAYMENT OF LOANS.  On the Termination Date the
Borrower shall repay the outstanding principal amount of the Note.


                                  -23-
<PAGE>

          Section 3.02  INTEREST.  The Borrower will pay to the Lender 
interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Loan for the period 
commencing on the date such Loan is made to but excluding the date such Loan 
shall be paid in full, at the following rates per annum:

          (i)  if such a Loan is a Base Rate Loan, the Base Rate (as in
     effect from time to time) plus the Applicable Margin (as in effect
     from time to time), but in no event to exceed the Highest Lawful Rate;
     and

          (ii) if such a Loan is a LIBOR Loan, for each Interest Period
     relating thereto, the LIBOR Rate for such Loan plus the Applicable
     Margin (as in effect from time to time), but in no event to exceed the
     Highest Lawful Rate.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower will pay to the Lender interest 
at the applicable Post-Default Rate on any principal of any Loan, and (to the 
fullest extent permitted by law) on any other amount payable by the Borrower 
hereunder, under any Loan Document or under the Note, for the period 
commencing on the date of Event of Default until the same is paid in full or 
all Events of Default are cured or waived.

Accrued interest on the Base Rate Loans shall be payable monthly commencing 
on November 30, 1996, and accrued interest on each LIBOR Loan shall be 
payable on the last day of each month during the Interest Period and on the 
last day of the Interest Period therefor, except that interest payable at the 
Post-Default Rate shall be payable from time to time on demand and interest 
on any LIBOR Loan that is converted into a Base Rate Loan (pursuant to 
Section 5.04) shall be payable on the date of conversion (but only to the 
extent so converted).

Promptly after the determination of any interest rate provided for herein or 
any change therein, the Lender shall notify the Borrower thereof.  Each 
determination by the Lender of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall, 
except in cases of manifest error, be final, conclusive and binding on the 
parties.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                          PAYMENTS; COMPUTATIONS; ETC.

          Section 4.01  PAYMENTS.  Except to the extent otherwise provided 
herein, all payments of principal, interest and other amounts to be made by 
the Borrower under this Agreement, the Note and the Letter of Credit 
Agreements shall be made in Dollars, in immediately available funds, to the 
Lender at such account as the Lender shall specify by notice to the Borrower 
from time to time, not later than 11:00 a.m. Charlotte, North Carolina time 
on the date on which such payments shall become due (each such payment made 
after such time on such due date to be deemed to have been made on the next 
succeeding Business Day). Such payments shall be made without (to the fullest 
extent permitted by applicable law) defense, set-off or counterclaim.  Each 
payment to be made to the Lender under this Agreement or the Note shall be 
paid promptly to the Lender, in immediately available funds.  Except as 
provided in the 


                                  -24-

<PAGE>

definition of "Interest Period", if the due date of any payment under this 
Agreement or the Note would otherwise fall on a day which is not a Business 
Day such date shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day and 
interest shall be payable for any principal so extended for the period of 
such extension.  At the time of each payment of any principal of or interest 
on any borrowing to the Lender, the Borrower shall notify the Lender of the 
Loans to which such payment shall apply. In the absence of such notice the 
Lender may specify the Loans to which such payment shall apply, but to the 
extent possible such payment or prepayment will be applied first to the Loans 
comprised of Base Rate Loans.

          Section 4.02  COMPUTATIONS.  Interest on LIBOR Loans and fees shall 
be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and actual days elapsed 
(including the first day but excluding the last day) occurring in the period 
for which payable, unless such calculation would exceed the Highest Lawful 
Rate, in which case interest shall be calculated on the per annum basis of a 
year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be.  Interest on Base Rate Loans 
shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may 
be, and actual days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last 
day) occurring in the period for which payable.

          Section 4.03  SET-OFF.   The Borrower agrees that, in addition to 
(and without limitation of) any right of set-off, bankers' lien or 
counterclaim the Lender may otherwise have, the Lender shall have the right 
and be entitled, at its option, to offset balances held by it or by any of 
its Affiliates for account of the Borrower or any Subsidiary at any of its 
offices, in Dollars or in any other currency, against any principal of or 
interest on any of the Loans or any other amount payable to the Lender 
hereunder, which is not paid when due (regardless of whether such balances 
are then due to the Borrower), in which case it shall promptly notify the 
Borrower thereof, provided that Lender's failure to give such notice shall 
not affect the validity thereof.

          Section 4.04  TAXES.

          (a)  PAYMENTS FREE AND CLEAR.  Any and all payments by the Borrower 
     hereunder shall be made, in accordance with Section 4.01, free and clear 
     of and without deduction for any and all present or future taxes, 
     levies, imposts, deductions, charges or withholdings, and all 
     liabilities with respect thereto, EXCLUDING, taxes imposed on its 
     income, and franchise or similar taxes imposed on it, by (i) any 
     jurisdiction (or political subdivision thereof) of which the Lender, is 
     a citizen or resident or in which the Lender has an Applicable Lending 
     Office, (ii) the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) in 
     which the Lender is organized, or (iii) any jurisdiction (or political 
     subdivision thereof) in which the Lender is presently doing business in 
     which taxes are imposed solely as a result of doing business in such 
     jurisdiction  (all such non-excluded taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, 
     charges, withholdings and liabilities being hereinafter referred to as 
     "TAXES").  If the Borrower shall be required by law to deduct any Taxes 
     from or in respect of any sum payable hereunder to the Lender (i) the 
     sum payable shall be increased by the amount necessary so that after 
     making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to 
     additional sums payable under this Section 4.04) the Lender shall 
     receive an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such 
     deductions been made, (ii) the Borrower shall make such deductions and 
     (iii) the Borrower shall pay the full 


                                       -25-
<PAGE>

     amount deducted to the relevant taxing authority or other Governmental 
     Authority in accordance with applicable law.  

          (b)  OTHER TAXES.  In addition, to the fullest extent permitted by 
     applicable law, the Borrower agrees to pay any present or future stamp 
     or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or 
     similar levies that arise from any payment made hereunder or from the 
     execution, delivery or registration of, or otherwise with respect to, 
     this Agreement or any Security Instrument (hereinafter referred to as 
     "OTHER TAXES").  
     
          (c)  INDEMNIFICATION.  TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY 
     APPLICABLE LAW, THE BORROWER WILL INDEMNIFY THE LENDER FOR THE FULL 
     AMOUNT OF TAXES AND OTHER TAXES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY 
     TAXES OR OTHER TAXES IMPOSED BY ANY GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY ON AMOUNTS 
     PAYABLE UNDER THIS SECTION 4.04) PAID BY THE LENDER, AND ANY LIABILITY 
     (INCLUDING PENALTIES, INTEREST AND EXPENSES) ARISING THEREFROM OR WITH 
     RESPECT THERETO, WHETHER OR NOT SUCH TAXES OR OTHER TAXES WERE CORRECTLY 
     OR LEGALLY ASSERTED UNLESS THE PAYMENT OF SUCH TAXES WAS NOT CORRECTLY 
     OR LEGALLY ASSERTED AND THE LENDER'S PAYMENT OF SUCH TAXES OR OTHER 
     TAXES WAS THE RESULT OF ITS GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT.  ANY 
     PAYMENT PURSUANT TO SUCH INDEMNIFICATION SHALL BE MADE WITHIN THIRTY 
     (30) DAYS AFTER THE DATE THE LENDER MAKES WRITTEN DEMAND THEREFOR.  IF 
     THE LENDER RECEIVES A REFUND OR CREDIT IN RESPECT OF ANY TAXES OR OTHER 
     TAXES FOR WHICH THE LENDER HAS RECEIVED PAYMENT FROM THE BORROWER IT 
     SHALL PROMPTLY NOTIFY THE BORROWER OF SUCH REFUND OR CREDIT AND SHALL, 
     IF NO DEFAULT HAS OCCURRED AND IS CONTINUING, WITHIN THIRTY (30) DAYS 
     AFTER RECEIPT OF A REQUEST BY THE BORROWER (OR PROMPTLY UPON RECEIPT, IF 
     THE BORROWER HAS REQUESTED APPLICATION FOR SUCH REFUND OR CREDIT 
     PURSUANT HERETO), PAY AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO SUCH REFUND OR CREDIT TO THE 
     BORROWER WITHOUT INTEREST (BUT WITH ANY INTEREST SO REFUNDED OR 
     CREDITED), PROVIDED THAT THE BORROWER, UPON THE REQUEST OF THE LENDER, 
     AGREES TO RETURN SUCH REFUND OR CREDIT (PLUS PENALTIES, INTEREST OR 
     OTHER CHARGES) TO THE LENDER IN THE EVENT THE LENDER IS REQUIRED TO 
     REPAY SUCH REFUND OR CREDIT.

          (d)  LENDER REPRESENTATIONS. 

               (i)  Lender represents that it is either (1) a corporation 
          organized under the laws of the United States of America or any 
          state thereof or (2) it is entitled to complete exemption from 
          United States withholding tax imposed on or with respect to any 
          payments, including fees, to be made to it pursuant to this 
          Agreement (A) under an applicable provision of a tax convention to 
          which the United States of America is a party or (B) because it is 
          acting through a branch, agency or office in the United States of 
          America and any payment to be received by it hereunder is 
          effectively connected with a trade or business in the United States 
          of America.  If Lender is not a corporation organized under the 
          laws of the United States of America or any state thereof, it 
          agrees to provide to the Borrower 


                                    -26-
<PAGE>

          on the Closing Date, or on the date of its delivery of the 
          assignment pursuant to which it becomes a Lender, and at such other 
          times as required by United States law or as the Borrower shall 
          reasonably request, two accurate and complete original signed 
          copies of either (A) Internal Revenue Service Form 4224 (or 
          successor form) certifying that all payments to be made to it 
          hereunder will be effectively connected to a United States trade or 
          business (the "FORM 4224 CERTIFICATION") or (B) Internal Revenue 
          Service Form 1001 (or successor form) certifying that it is 
          entitled to the benefit of a provision of a tax convention to which 
          the United States of America is a party which completely exempts 
          from United States withholding tax all payments to be made to it 
          hereunder (the "FORM 1001 CERTIFICATION").  In addition, the Lender 
          agrees that if it previously filed a Form 4224 Certification it 
          will deliver to the Borrower a new Form 4224 Certification prior to 
          the first payment date occurring in each of its subsequent taxable 
          years; and if it previously filed a Form 1001 Certification, it 
          will deliver to the Borrower a new certification prior to the first 
          payment date falling in the third year following the previous 
          filing of such certification.  Lender also agrees to deliver to the 
          Borrower such other or supplemental forms as may at any time be 
          required as a result of changes in applicable law or regulation in 
          order to confirm or maintain in effect its entitlement to exemption 
          from United States withholding tax on any payments hereunder, 
          PROVIDED that the circumstances of the Lender at the relevant time 
          and applicable laws permit it to do so.  If the Lender determines, 
          as a result of any change in either (i) a Governmental Requirement 
          or (ii) its circumstances, that it is unable to submit any form or 
          certificate that it is obligated to submit pursuant to this Section 
          4.04(d), or that it is required to withdraw or cancel any such form 
          or certificate previously submitted, it shall promptly notify the 
          Borrower of such fact.  If Lender is organized under the laws of a 
          jurisdiction outside the United States of America, unless the 
          Borrower has received a Form 1001 Certification or Form 4224 
          Certification satisfactory to it indicating that all payments to be 
          made to the Lender hereunder are not subject to United States 
          withholding tax, the Borrower shall withhold taxes from such 
          payments at the applicable statutory rate.  Lender agrees to 
          indemnify and hold harmless from any United States taxes, 
          penalties, interest and other expenses, costs and losses incurred 
          or payable by the Borrower as a result of its reliance on any such 
          form or certificate which Lender has provided to it pursuant to 
          this Section 4.04(d).
                    
               (ii) For any period with respect to which Lender has failed to 
          provide the Borrower with the form required pursuant to Section 
          4.04(d), if any, (other than if such failure is due to a change in 
          a Governmental Requirement occurring subsequent to the date on 
          which a form originally was required to be provided), the Lender 
          shall not be entitled to indemnification under Section 4.04 with 
          respect to taxes imposed by the United States which taxes would not 
          have been imposed but for such failure to provide such forms; 
          PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that should Lender, which is otherwise exempt 
          from or subject to a reduced rate of withholding tax becomes 
          subject to taxes because of its failure to deliver a form required 

                                     -27-
<PAGE>

          hereunder, the Borrower shall take such steps as the Lender shall 
          reasonably request to assist the Lender to recover such taxes.
          
               (iii)     If the Lender claims any additional amounts payable 
          pursuant to this Section 4.04(d), it shall use reasonable efforts 
          (consistent with legal and regulatory restrictions) to file any 
          certificate or document requested by the Borrower or to change the 
          jurisdiction of its Applicable Lending Office or to contest any tax 
          imposed if the making of such a filing or change or contesting such 
          tax would avoid the need for or reduce the amount of any such 
          additional amounts that may thereafter accrue and would not, in its 
          sole determination, be otherwise disadvantageous to the Lender.

          Section 4.05  DISPOSITION OF PROCEEDS.  The Security Instruments
contain an assignment by the Borrower unto and in favor of the Lender of all
production and all proceeds attributable thereto which may be produced from or
allocated to the Mortgaged Property, and the Security Instruments further
provide in general for the application of such proceeds to the satisfaction of
the Indebtedness and other obligations described therein and secured thereby. 
Notwithstanding the assignment contained in such Security Instruments, until the
occurrence of an Event of Default, the Lender agrees that it will neither notify
the purchaser or purchasers of such production nor take any other action to
cause such proceeds to be remitted to the Lender, but the Lender will instead
permit such proceeds to be paid to the Borrower and used by Borrower in
conducting its business.


                                    ARTICLE V

                                CAPITAL ADEQUACY

          Section 5.01  ADDITIONAL COSTS.  

          (a)  EURODOLLAR REGULATIONS, ETC.  The Borrower shall pay directly to
     Lender from time to time such amounts as the Lender may determine to be
     necessary to compensate the Lender for any costs which it determines are
     attributable to its making or maintaining of any LIBOR Loans or issuing or
     participating in Letters of Credit hereunder or its obligation to make any
     LIBOR Loans or issue any Letters of Credit hereunder, or any reduction in
     any amount receivable by the Lender hereunder in respect of any of such
     LIBOR Loans, Letters of Credit or such obligation (such increases in costs
     and reductions in amounts receivable being herein called "ADDITIONAL
     COSTS"), resulting from any Regulatory Change which: (i) changes the basis
     of taxation of any amounts payable to the Lender under this Agreement or
     the Note in respect of any of such LIBOR Loans or Letters of Credit (other
     than taxes imposed on the overall net income of the Lender or of its
     Applicable Lending Office for any of such LIBOR Loans by the jurisdiction
     of the Principal Office or Applicable Lending Office); or (ii) imposes or
     modifies any reserve, special deposit, minimum capital, capital ratio or
     similar requirements  relating to any extensions of credit or other assets
     of, or any deposits with or other liabilities of the 


                                  -28-
<PAGE>

     Lender, or the Commitment or the Eurodollar interbank market; or (iii) 
     imposes any other condition affecting this Agreement or the Note (or 
     any of such extensions of credit or liabilities) or the Commitment.  
     The Lender will notify the Borrower of any event occurring after the 
     Closing Date which will entitle the Lender to compensation pursuant to 
     this Section 5.01(a) as promptly as practicable after it obtains 
     knowledge thereof and determines to request such compensation, and will 
     designate a different Applicable Lending Office for the Loans affected 
     by such event if such designation will avoid the need for, or reduce 
     the amount of, such compensation and will not, in the sole opinion of 
     the Lender, be disadvantageous to it, provided that it shall have no 
     obligation to so designate an Applicable Lending Office located in the 
     United States.  If the Lender requests compensation from the Borrower 
     under this Section 5.01(a), the Borrower may, by notice to the Lender, 
     suspend the obligation of the Lender to make additional Loans of the 
     Type with respect to which such compensation is requested until the 
     Regulatory Change giving rise to such request ceases to be in effect 
     (in which case the provisions of Section 5.04 shall be applicable).

          (b)  REGULATORY CHANGE.  Without limiting the effect of the provisions
     of Section 5.01(a), in the event that, by reason of any Regulatory Change
     or any other circumstances arising after the Closing Date affecting the
     Lender, the Eurodollar interbank market or the Lender's position in such
     market, the Lender either (i) incurs Additional Costs based on or measured
     by the excess above a specified level of the amount of a category of
     deposits or other liabilities of the Lender which includes deposits by
     reference to which the interest rate on LIBOR Loans is determined as
     provided in this Agreement or a category of extensions of credit or other
     assets of the Lender which includes LIBOR Loans or (ii) becomes subject to
     restrictions on the amount of such a category of liabilities or assets
     which it may hold, then, if the Lender so elects by notice to the Borrower,
     the obligation of the Lender to make additional LIBOR Loans shall be
     suspended until such Regulatory Change or other circumstances ceases to be
     in effect (in which case the provisions of Section 5.04 shall be
     applicable).

          (c)  CAPITAL ADEQUACY.  Without limiting the effect of the foregoing
     provisions of this Section 5.01 (but without duplication), the Borrower
     shall pay directly to the Lender from time to time on request such amounts
     as the Lender may reasonably determine to be necessary to compensate it or
     its parent or holding company for any costs which it determines are
     attributable to the maintenance by it or its parent or holding company (or
     any Applicable Lending Office), pursuant to any Governmental Requirement
     following any Regulatory Change, of capital in respect of the Commitment,
     the Note, the Loans or any interest held by it in any Letter of Credit
     (such compensation to include, without limitation, an amount equal to any
     reduction of the rate of return on assets or equity of the Lender or its
     parent or holding company (or any Applicable Lending Office) to a level
     below that which the Lender or its parent or holding company (or any
     Applicable Lending Office) could have achieved but for such Governmental
     Requirement).  The Lender will notify the Borrower that it is entitled to
     compensation pursuant to this Section 5.01(c) as promptly as practicable
     after it determines to request such compensation.


                                     -29-
<PAGE>

          (d)  COMPENSATION PROCEDURE.  If Lender notifies the Borrower of the
     incurrence of additional costs under this Section 5.01, such notice to the
     Borrower shall set forth the basis and amount of its request for
     compensation.  Determinations and allocations by the Lender for purposes of
     this Section 5.01 of the effect of any Regulatory Change pursuant to
     Section 5.01(a) or (b), or of the effect of capital maintained pursuant to
     Section 5.01(a), on its costs or rate of return of maintaining Loans or its
     obligation to make Loans or issue Letters of Credit, or on amounts
     receivable by it in respect of Loans or Letters of Credit, and of the
     amounts required to compensate the Lender under this Section 5.01, shall be
     conclusive and binding for all purposes, provided that such determinations
     and allocations are made on a reasonable basis and in good faith.  Any
     request for additional compensation under this Section 5.01 shall be paid
     by the Borrower within thirty (30) days of the receipt by the Borrower of
     the notice described in this Section 5.01(d).

          Section 5.02  LIMITATION ON LIBOR LOANS.  Anything herein to the
contrary notwithstanding, if, on or prior to the determination of any LIBOR Rate
for any Interest Period:

          (i)  the Lender determines (which determination shall be
     conclusive absent manifest error) that quotations of interest rates
     for the relevant deposits referred to in the definition of "LIBOR" in
     Section 1.02 are not being provided in the relevant amounts or for the
     relevant maturities for purposes of determining rates of interest for
     LIBOR Loans as provided herein; or

          (ii) the Lender determines (which determination shall be
     conclusive absent manifest error) that the relevant rates of interest
     referred to in the definition of "LIBOR" in Section 1.02 upon the
     basis of which the rate of interest for LIBOR Loans for such Interest
     Period is to be determined are not likely to adequately cover the cost
     to the Lender of making or maintaining LIBOR Loans;

then the Lender shall give the Borrower prompt notice thereof, and so long as
such condition remains in effect, the Lender shall be under no obligation to
make additional LIBOR Loans.

          Section 5.03  ILLEGALITY.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement, in the event that it becomes unlawful for the Lender or its
Applicable Lending Office to honor its obligation to make or maintain LIBOR
Loans hereunder, then the Lender shall promptly notify the Borrower thereof and
the Lender's obligation to make LIBOR Loans shall be suspended until such time
as the Lender may again make and maintain LIBOR Loans (in which case the
provisions of Section 5.04 shall be applicable).

          Section 5.04  BASE RATE LOANS PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 5.01, 5.02 AND
5.03.  If the obligation of the Lender to make LIBOR Loans shall be suspended
pursuant to Sections 5.01, 5.02 or 5.03 ("AFFECTED LOANS"), all Affected Loans
which would otherwise be made by the Lender shall be made instead as Base Rate
Loans (and, if an event referred to in Section 5.01(b) or Section 5.03 has
occurred and the Lender so requests by notice to the Borrower, all Affected
Loans then outstanding shall be automatically converted into Base Rate Loans on
the date 


                                    -30-
<PAGE>

specified by the Lender in such notice) and, to the extent that Affected 
Loans are so made as (or converted into) Base Rate Loans, all payments of 
principal which would otherwise be applied to the Affected Loans shall be 
applied instead to Base Rate Loans.

          Section 5.05  COMPENSATION.  The Borrower shall pay to the Lender
within thirty (30) days of receipt of written request of Lender (which request
shall set forth, in reasonable detail, the basis for requesting such amounts and
which shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes provided that such
determinations are made on a reasonable basis), such amount or amounts as shall
compensate it for any loss, cost, expense or liability which the Lender
determines are attributable to:

          (i)  any payment, prepayment or conversion of a LIBOR Loan
     properly made by the Lender or the Borrower for any reason (including,
     without limitation, the acceleration of the Loans pursuant to Section
     10.02) on a date other than the last day of the Interest Period for
     such Loan; or

          (ii) any failure by the Borrower for any reason (including but
     not limited to, the failure of any of the conditions precedent
     specified in Article VI to be satisfied) to borrow, continue or
     convert a LIBOR Loan on the date for such borrowing, continuation or
     conversion specified in the relevant notice given pursuant to
     Section 2.02(c).

Without limiting the effect of the preceding sentence, such compensation shall
include an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (i) the amount of interest
which would have accrued on the principal amount so paid, prepaid or converted
or not borrowed for the period from the date of such payment, prepayment or
conversion or failure to borrow to the last day of the Interest Period for such
Loan (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, the Interest Period for such Loan
which would have commenced on the date specified for such borrowing) at the
applicable rate of interest for such Loan provided for herein over (ii) the
interest component of the amount the Lender would have bid in the London
interbank market for Dollar deposits of leading banks in amounts comparable to
such principal amount and with maturities comparable to such period (as
reasonably determined by the Lender).

                                   ARTICLE VI

                              CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

          Section 6.01  INITIAL FUNDING.

          The obligation of the Lender to make the Initial Funding is subject to
its receipt by the Lender of all fees payable pursuant to Section 2.04 on or
before the Closing Date and the receipt by the Lender of the following documents
and satisfaction of the other conditions provided in this Section 6.01, each of
which shall be satisfactory to the Lender in form and substance:


                                    -31-
<PAGE>

          (a)  A certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the
     Borrower setting forth (i) resolutions of its board of directors with
     respect to the authorization of the Borrower to execute and deliver the
     Loan Documents to which it is a party and to enter into the transactions
     contemplated in those documents, (ii) the officers of the Borrower (y) who
     are authorized to sign the Loan Documents to which Borrower is a party and
     (z) who will, until replaced by another officer or officers duly authorized
     for that purpose, act as its representative for the purposes of signing
     documents and giving notices and other communications in connection with
     this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, (iii) specimen
     signatures of the authorized officers, and (iv) the articles or certificate
     of incorporation and bylaws of the Borrower, certified as being true and
     complete.  The Lender may conclusively rely on such certificate until it
     receives notice in writing from the Borrower to the contrary. 

          (b)  A certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of each
     Guarantor setting forth (i) resolutions of its board of directors with
     respect to the authorization of such Guarantor to execute and deliver the
     Loan Documents to which it is a party and to enter into the transactions
     contemplated in those documents, (ii) the officers of such Guarantor (y)
     who are authorized to sign the Loan Documents to which such Guarantor is a
     party and (z) who will, until replaced by another officer or officers duly
     authorized for that purpose, act as its representative for the purposes of
     signing documents and giving notices and other communications in connection
     with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, (iii)
     specimen signatures of the authorized officers, and (iv) the articles or
     certificate of incorporation and bylaws of such Guarantor, certified as
     being true and complete.  The Lender may conclusively rely on such
     certificate until it receives notice in writing from such Guarantor to the
     contrary. 

          (c)  Certificates of the appropriate state agencies with respect to
     the existence, qualification and good standing of the Borrower and
     Guarantors.

          (d)  A compliance certificate which shall be substantially in the form
     of Exhibit C, duly and properly executed by a Responsible Officer and dated
     as of the date of the Initial Funding.

          (e)  The Note, duly completed and executed.

          (f)  The Security Instruments described on Exhibit E, duly completed
     and executed in sufficient number of counterparts for recording, if
     necessary.

          (g)  An opinion of Michener, Larimore, Swindle, Whitaker, Flowers,
     Sawyer, Reynolds & Chalk, L.L.P., special counsel to the Borrower,
     substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto.

          (h)  A certificate of insurance coverage of the Borrower evidencing
     that the Borrower is carrying insurance in accordance with Section 7.19
     hereof.


                                   -32-
<PAGE>

          (i)  Title information as the Lender may require from attorneys
     satisfactory to the Lender setting forth the status of title to at least
     eighty percent (80%) of the value of the Oil and Gas Properties included in
     the Initial Reserve Report. 

          (j)  List of purchasers of Hydrocarbons produced from the Borrower's
     Mortgaged Properties.

          (l)  Such other documents as the Lender or special counsel to the
     Lender may reasonably request.

          Section 6.02  INITIAL AND SUBSEQUENT LOANS.  The obligation of the
Lender to make Loans to the Borrower upon the occasion of each borrowing
hereunder and to issue, renew, extend or reissue Letters of Credit for the
account of the Borrower (including the Initial Funding) is subject to the
further conditions precedent that, as of the date of such Loans and after giving
effect thereto:  (i) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing; (ii) no
Material Adverse Effect shall have occurred; and (iii) the representations and
warranties made by the Borrower in Article VII and in the Security Instruments
shall be true on and as of the date of the making of such Loans or issuance,
renewal, extension or reissuance of a Letter of Credit with the same force and
effect as if made on and as of such date and following such new borrowing,
except to the extent such representations and warranties are expressly limited
to an earlier date or the Lender may expressly consent in writing to the
contrary.  Each request for a borrowing or issuance, renewal, extension or
reissuance of a Letter of Credit by the Borrower hereunder shall constitute a
certification by the Borrower to the effect set forth in the preceding sentence
(both as of the date of such notice and, unless the Borrower otherwise notifies
the Lender prior to the date of and immediately following such borrowing as of
the date thereof).

          Section 6.03  CONDITIONS RELATING TO LETTERS OF CREDIT. In addition to
the satisfaction of all other conditions precedent set forth in this Article VI,
the issuance, renewal, extension or reissuance of the Letters of Credit referred
to in Section 2.01(b) hereof is subject to the following conditions precedent:

          (a)  At least three (3) Business Days prior to the date of the
     issuance and at least thirty (30) Business Days prior to the date of the
     renewal, extension or reissuance of each Letter of Credit, the Lender shall
     have received a written request for a Letter of Credit.

          (b)  Each of the Letters of Credit shall (i) be issued by the Lender,
     (ii) contain such terms and provisions as are reasonably required by the
     Lender, (iii) be for the account of the Borrower or a Subsidiary, and
     (iv) expire not later than the earlier of one (1) year from the date of
     issuance, renewal, extension or reissuance or two (2) days before the
     Termination Date.

          (c)  The Borrower shall have duly and validly executed and delivered
     to the Lender a Letter of Credit Agreement pertaining to the Letter of
     Credit.


                                      -33-
<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE VII

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

     The Borrower represents and warrants to the Lender that (each
representation and warranty herein is given as of the Closing Date and shall be
deemed repeated and reaffirmed on the dates of each borrowing and issuance,
renewal, extension or reissuance of a Letter of Credit as provided in Section
6.02):

          Section 7.01  CORPORATE EXISTENCE.  Each of the Borrower and each
Subsidiary:  (i) is a corporation duly organized, legally existing and in good
standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation; (ii) has all
requisite  power, and has all material governmental licenses, authorizations,
consents and approvals necessary to own its assets and carry on its business as
now being or as proposed to be conducted; and (iii) is qualified to do business
in all jurisdictions in which the nature of the business conducted by it makes
such qualification necessary and where failure so to qualify would have a
Material Adverse Effect.

          Section 7.02  FINANCIAL CONDITION.  The audited consolidated balance
sheet of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as at December 31, 1995
and the related consolidated statement of income, stockholders' equity and cash
flow of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended
on said date, with the opinion thereon of Ernst & Young L.L.P. heretofore
furnished to the Lender and the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the
Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as at June 30, 1996 and their related
consolidated statements of income, stockholders' equity and cash flow of the
Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for the three-month period ended on
such date heretofore furnished to the Lender, are complete and correct and
fairly present the consolidated financial condition of the Borrower and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries as at said dates and the results of its operations for
the fiscal year and the three-month period on said dates, all in accordance with
GAAP, as applied on a consistent basis (subject, in the case of the interim
financial statements, to normal year-end adjustments).  Neither the Borrower nor
any Subsidiary has on the Closing Date any material Debt, contingent
liabilities, liabilities for taxes, unusual forward or long-term commitments or
unrealized or anticipated losses from any unfavorable commitments, except as
referred to or reflected or provided for in the  Financial Statements or in
Schedule 7.02.  Since December 31, 1995, there has been no change or event
having a Material Adverse Effect.  Since the date of the Financial Statements,
neither the business nor the Properties of the Borrower or any Subsidiary have
been materially and adversely affected as a result of any fire, explosion,
earthquake, flood, drought, windstorm, accident, strike or other labor
disturbance, embargo, requisition or taking of Property or cancellation of
contracts, permits or concessions by any Governmental Authority, riot,
activities of armed forces or acts of God or of any public enemy.

          Section 7.03  LITIGATION.  Except as disclosed to the Lender in
Schedule 7.03 hereto, at the Closing Date there is no litigation, legal,
administrative or arbitral proceeding, investigation or other action of any
nature pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower threatened against or
affecting the Borrower or any Subsidiary which involves the possibility of


                                      -34-
<PAGE>

any judgment or liability against the Borrower or any Subsidiary not fully
covered by insurance (except for normal deductibles) and which would have a
Material Adverse Effect.

          Section 7.04  NO BREACH.  Neither the execution and delivery of the
Loan Documents, nor compliance with the terms and provisions hereof will
conflict with or result in a breach of, or require any consent which has not
been obtained as of the Closing Date under, the respective charter or by-laws of
the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any Governmental Requirement or any agreement
or instrument to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is a party or by which it
is bound or to which it or its Properties are subject, or constitute a default
under any such agreement or instrument, or result in the creation or imposition
of any Lien upon any of the revenues or assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary
pursuant to the terms of any such agreement or instrument other than the Liens
created by the Loan Documents.

          Section 7.05  AUTHORITY.  The Borrower and each Subsidiary have all
necessary corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform their
obligations under the Loan Documents to which they are respectively a party; and
the execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower and each Subsidiary of
the Loan Documents to which they are respectively a party, have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action on their part; and the Loan
Documents constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Borrower
and each Subsidiary, enforceable in accordance with their terms.

          Section 7.06  APPROVALS.  No authorizations, approvals or consents of,
and no filings or registrations with, any Governmental Authority are necessary
for the execution, delivery or performance by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of
the Loan Documents to which it is a party or for the validity or enforceability
thereof, except for the recording and filing of the Security Instruments as
required by this Agreement.

          Section 7.07  USE OF LOANS.  The proceeds of the Initial Loan shall be
used to refinance the Existing Indebtedness and the proceeds of subsequent Loans
shall be used (i) to acquire and develop proved oil and gas reserves, (ii) the
Summit Acquisition and (iii) for working capital.  The Borrower is not engaged
principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending
credit for the purpose, whether immediate, incidental or ultimate, of buying or
carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation G, U or X of the Board
of Governors of the Federal Reserve System) and no part of the proceeds of any
Loan hereunder will be used to buy or carry any margin stock.

          Section 7.08  ERISA.

          (a)  The Borrower, each Subsidiary and each ERISA Affiliate have
     complied in all material respects with ERISA and, where applicable, the
     Code regarding each Plan.

          (b)  Each Plan is, and has been, maintained in substantial compliance
     with ERISA and, where applicable, the Code.


                                      -35-
<PAGE>

          (c)  No act, omission or transaction has occurred which could result
     in imposition on the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate
     (whether directly or indirectly) of (i) either a civil penalty assessed
     pursuant to section 502(c), (i) or (l) of ERISA or a tax imposed pursuant
     to Chapter 43 of Subtitle D of the Code or (ii) breach of fiduciary duty
     liability damages under section 409 of ERISA.

          (d)  No Plan (other than a defined contribution plan) or any trust
     created under any such Plan has been terminated since September 2, 1974.
     No liability to the PBGC (other than for the payment of current premiums
     which are not past due) by the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA
     Affiliate has been or is expected by the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any
     ERISA Affiliate to be incurred with respect to any Plan.  No ERISA Event
     with respect to any Plan has occurred.

          (e)  Full payment when due has been made of all amounts which the
     Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate is required under the terms
     of each Plan or applicable law to have paid as contributions to such Plan,
     and no accumulated funding deficiency (as defined in section 302 of ERISA
     and section 412 of the Code), whether or not waived, exists with respect to
     any Plan.

          (f)  The actuarial present value of the benefit liabilities under each
     Plan which is subject to Title IV of ERISA does not, as of the end of the
     Borrower's most recently ended fiscal year, exceed the current value of the
     assets (computed on a plan termination basis in accordance with Title IV of
     ERISA) of such Plan allocable to such benefit liabilities.  The term
     "actuarial present value of the benefit liabilities" shall have the meaning
     specified in section 4041 of ERISA.

          (g)  None of the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate
     sponsors, maintains, or contributes to an employee welfare benefit plan, as
     defined in section 3(1) of ERISA, including, without limitation, any such
     plan maintained to provide benefits to former employees of such entities,
     that may not be terminated by the Borrower, a Subsidiary or any ERISA
     Affiliate in its sole discretion at any time without any material
     liability.

          (h)  None of the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate
     sponsors, maintains or contributes to, or has at any time in the preceding
     six calendar years sponsored, maintained or contributed to, any
     Multiemployer Plan.

          (i)  None of the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate is
     required to provide security under section 401(a)(29) of the Code due to a
     Plan amendment that results in an increase in current liability for the
     Plan.

          Section 7.09  TAXES.  Except as set out in Schedule 7.09, each of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries has filed all United States Federal income tax
returns and all other tax returns which are required to be filed by them and
have paid all material taxes due pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any
assessment received by the Borrower or any Subsidiary.  The charges,


                                      -36-
<PAGE>

accruals and reserves on the books of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in
respect of taxes and other governmental charges are, in the opinion of the
Borrower, adequate.  No tax lien has been filed and, to the knowledge of the
Borrower, no claim is being asserted with respect to any such tax, fee or other
charge.

          Section 7.10  TITLES, ETC.

          (a)  Except as set out in Schedule 7.10, the Borrower and its
     Subsidiaries have good and defensible title to its material (individually
     or in the aggregate) Properties, free and clear of all Liens except Liens
     permitted by Section 9.02.  Except as set forth in Schedule 7.10, after
     giving full effect to the Excepted Liens, the Borrower owns the net
     interests in production attributable to the Hydrocarbon Interests reflected
     in the most recently delivered Reserve Report and the ownership of such
     Properties shall not in any material respect obligate the Borrower to bear
     the costs and expenses relating to the maintenance, development and
     operations of each such Property in an amount in excess of the working
     interest of each Property set forth in the most recently delivered Reserve
     Report.  All information contained in the most recently delivered Reserve
     Report is true and correct in all material respects as of the date thereof.

          (b)  All leases and agreements necessary for the conduct of the
     business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are valid and subsisting, in
     full force and effect and there exists no default or event or circumstance
     which with the giving of notice or the passage of time or both would give
     rise to a default under any such lease or leases, which would affect in any
     material respect the conduct of the business of the Borrower and its
     Subsidiaries.

          (c)  The rights, properties and other assets presently owned, leased
     or licensed by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries including, without
     limitation, all easements and rights of way, include all rights, Properties
     and other assets necessary to permit the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to
     conduct their business in all material respects in the same manner as its
     business has been conducted prior to the Closing Date.

          (d)  All of the assets and Properties of the Borrower and its
     Subsidiaries which are reasonably necessary for the operation of its
     business are in good working condition and are maintained in accordance
     with prudent business standards.

          Section 7.11  NO MATERIAL MISSTATEMENTS.  No written information,
statement, exhibit, certificate, document or report furnished to the Lender by
the Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with the negotiation of this
Agreement contained any material misstatement of fact or omitted to state a
material fact or any fact necessary to make the statement contained therein not
materially misleading in the light of the circumstances in which made and with
respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.  There is no fact
peculiar to the Borrower or any Subsidiary which has a Material Adverse Effect
or in the future is reasonably likely to have (so far as the Borrower can now
foresee) a Material Adverse Effect and which has not been set forth in this
Agreement or the other documents, certificates and statements furnished to the
Lender by


                                      -37-
<PAGE>

or on behalf of the Borrower or any Subsidiary prior to, or on, the Closing Date
in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.

          Section 7.12  INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT.  Neither the Borrower nor any
Subsidiary is an "investment company" or a company "controlled" by an
"investment company," within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended.

          Section 7.13  PUBLIC UTILITY HOLDING COMPANY ACT.  Neither the
Borrower nor any Subsidiary is a "holding company," or a "subsidiary company" of
a "holding company," or an "affiliate" of a "holding company" or of a
"subsidiary company" of a "holding company," or a "public utility" within the
meaning of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended.

          Section 7.14  SUBSIDIARIES.  Except as set forth on Schedule 7.14, the
Borrower has no Subsidiaries.

          Section 7.15  LOCATION OF BUSINESS AND OFFICES.  The Borrower's
principal place of business and chief executive offices are located at the
address stated on the signature page of this Agreement.  The principal place of
business and chief executive office of each Subsidiary are located at the
addresses stated on Schedule 7.14.

          Section 7.16  DEFAULTS.  Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary is in
default nor has any event or circumstance occurred which, but for the expiration
of any applicable grace period or the giving of notice, or both, would
constitute a default under any material agreement or instrument to which the
Borrower or any Subsidiary is a party or by which the Borrower or any Subsidiary
is bound which default would have a Material Adverse Effect.  No Default
hereunder has occurred and is continuing.

          Section 7.17  ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS.  Except (i) as provided in
Schedule 7.17 or (ii) as would not have a Material Adverse Effect (or with
respect to (c), (d) and (e) below, where the failure to take such actions would
not have a Material Adverse Effect):

          (a)  Neither any Property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary nor the
     operations conducted thereon violate any order or requirement of any court
     or Governmental Authority or any Environmental Laws;

          (b)  Without limitation of clause (a) above, no Property of the
     Borrower or any Subsidiary nor the operations currently conducted thereon
     or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, by any prior owner or operator
     of such Property or operation, are in violation of or subject to any
     existing, pending or threatened action, suit, investigation, inquiry or
     proceeding by or before any court or Governmental Authority or to any
     remedial obligations under Environmental Laws;

          (c)  All notices, permits, licenses or similar authorizations, if any,
     required to be obtained or filed in connection with the operation or use of
     any and all Property of the


                                      -38-
<PAGE>

     Borrower and each Subsidiary, including without limitation past or present
     treatment, storage, disposal or release of a hazardous substance or solid
     waste into the environment, have been duly obtained or filed, and the
     Borrower and each Subsidiary are in compliance with the terms and
     conditions of all such notices, permits, licenses and similar
     authorizations;

          (d)  All hazardous substances, solid waste, and oil and gas
     exploration and production wastes, if any, generated at any and all
     Property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary have, during the time period
     owned by the Borrower,  been transported, treated and disposed of in
     accordance with Environmental Laws and so as not to pose an imminent and
     substantial endangerment to public health or welfare or the environment,
     and, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, all such transport carriers and
     treatment and disposal facilities have been and are operating in compliance
     with Environmental Laws and so as not to pose an imminent and substantial
     endangerment to public health or welfare or the environment, and are not
     the subject of any existing, pending or threatened action, investigation or
     inquiry by any Governmental Authority in connection with any Environmental
     Laws;

          (e)  The Borrower has taken all steps reasonably necessary to
     determine and has determined that no hazardous substances, solid waste, or
     oil and gas exploration and production wastes, have been disposed of or
     otherwise released and there has been no threatened release of any
     hazardous substances on or to any Property of the Borrower or any
     Subsidiary except in compliance with Environmental Laws and so as not to
     pose an imminent and substantial endangerment to public health or welfare
     or the environment;

          (f)  To the extent applicable, all Property of the Borrower and each
     Subsidiary currently satisfies all design, operation, and equipment
     requirements imposed by the OPA or scheduled as of the Closing Date to be
     imposed by OPA during the term of this Agreement, and the Borrower does not
     have any reason to believe that such Property, to the extent subject to
     OPA, will not be able to maintain compliance with the OPA requirements
     during the term of this Agreement; and

          (g)  Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary has any known contingent
     liability in connection with any release or threatened release of any oil,
     hazardous substance or solid waste into the environment.

          Section 7.18  COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW.  Neither the Borrower nor any
Subsidiary has violated any Governmental Requirement or failed to obtain any
license, permit, franchise or other governmental authorization necessary for the
ownership of any of its Properties or the conduct of its business, which
violation or failure would have (in the event such violation or failure were
asserted by any Person through appropriate action) a Material Adverse Effect.
Except for such acts or failures to act as would not have a Material Adverse
Effect, the Oil and Gas Properties (and properties unitized therewith) have been
maintained, operated and developed in a good and workmanlike manner and in
conformity


                                      -39-
<PAGE>

with all applicable laws and all rules, regulations and orders of all duly
constituted authorities having jurisdiction and in conformity with the
provisions of all leases, subleases or other contracts comprising a part of the
Hydrocarbon Interests and other contracts and agreements forming a part of the
Oil and Gas Properties; specifically in this connection, (i) after the Closing
Date, no Oil and Gas Property is subject to having allowable production reduced
below the full and regular allowable (including the maximum permissible
tolerance) because of any overproduction (whether or not the same was
permissible at the time) prior to the Closing Date and (ii) none of the wells
comprising a part of the Oil and Gas Properties (or properties unitized
therewith) are deviated from the vertical more than the maximum permitted by
applicable laws, regulations, rules and orders, and such wells are, in fact,
bottomed under and are producing from, and the well bores are wholly within, the
Oil and Gas Properties (or in the case of wells located on properties unitized
therewith, such unitized properties).

          Section 7.19  INSURANCE.  Schedule 7.19 attached hereto contains an
accurate and complete description of all material policies of fire, liability,
workmen's compensation and other forms of insurance owned or held by the
Borrower and each Subsidiary.  All such policies are in full force and effect,
all premiums with respect thereto covering all periods up to and including the
date of the closing have been paid, and no notice of cancellation or termination
has been received with respect to any such policy.  Such policies are sufficient
for compliance with all requirements of law and of all agreements to which the
Borrower or any Subsidiary is a party; are valid, outstanding and enforceable
policies; provide adequate insurance coverage in at least such amounts and
against at least such risks (but including in any event public liability) as are
usually insured against in the same general area by companies engaged in the
same or a similar business for the assets and operations of the Borrower and
each Subsidiary; will remain in full force and effect through the respective
dates set forth in Schedule 7.19 without the payment of additional premiums; and
will not in any way be affected by, or terminate or lapse by reason of, the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.  Schedule 7.19 identifies all
material risks, if any, which the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and their
respective Board of Directors or officers have designated as being self insured.
Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary has been refused any insurance with
respect to its assets or operations, nor has its coverage been limited below
usual and customary policy limits, by an insurance carrier to which it has
applied for any such insurance or with which it has carried insurance during the
last three years.

          Section 7.20  GAS IMBALANCES.  As of the Closing Date, except as set
forth on Schedule 7.20 or on the most recent certificate delivered pursuant to
Section 8.07(c), on a net basis there are no gas imbalances, take or pay or
other prepayments with respect to the Borrower's Oil and Gas Properties which
would require the Borrower to deliver Hydrocarbons produced from the Oil and Gas
Properties at some future time without then or thereafter receiving full payment
therefor exceeding 1,000,000 cubic feet of gas in the aggregate.

          Section 7.21  HEDGING AGREEMENTS.  Schedule 7.21 sets forth, as of the
Closing Date, a true and complete list of all Hedging Agreements (including
commodity price swap agreements, forward agreements or contracts of sale which
provide for prepayment for deferred shipment or delivery of oil, gas or other
commodities) of the Borrower and each Subsidiary, the material terms thereof
(including the type, term, effective date, termination date and notional


                                      -40-
<PAGE>

amounts or volumes), the net mark to market value thereof, all credit support
agreements relating thereto (including any margin required or supplied), and the
counterparty to each such agreement.



                                  ARTICLE VIII

                              AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

     The Borrower covenants and agrees that, so long as the Commitment is in
effect and until payment in full of all Indebtedness hereunder, all interest
thereon and all other amounts payable by the Borrower hereunder:

          Section 8.01  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.  The Borrower shall deliver, or
shall cause to be delivered, to the Lender:

          (a)  As soon as available and in any event within ninety-five (95)
     days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, the audited
     consolidated and unaudited consolidating statements of income,
     stockholders' equity, changes in financial position and cash flow of the
     Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for such fiscal year, and the
     related consolidated and consolidating balance sheets of the Borrower and
     its Consolidated Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal year, and
     setting forth in each case in comparative form the corresponding figures
     for the preceding fiscal year, and accompanied by the related opinion of
     independent public accountants of recognized national standing acceptable
     to the Lender which opinion shall state that the audited financial
     statements fairly present the consolidated financial condition and results
     of operations of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as at the
     end of, and for, such fiscal year and that such financial statements have
     been prepared in accordance with GAAP except for such changes in such
     principles with which the independent public accountants shall have
     concurred and such opinion shall not contain a "going concern" or like
     qualification or exception and a certificate of such accountants stating
     that, in making the examination necessary for their opinion, they obtained
     no knowledge, except as specifically stated, of any Default.

          (b)  As soon as available and in any event within fifty (50) days
     after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarterly periods of each
     fiscal year of the Borrower,  consolidated and consolidating statements of
     income, stockholders' equity, changes in financial position and cash flow
     of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for such period and for
     the period from the beginning of the respective fiscal year to the end of
     such period, and the related consolidated and consolidating balance sheets
     as at the end of such period, and setting forth in each case in comparative
     form the corresponding figures for the corresponding period in the
     preceding fiscal year, accompanied by the certificate of a Responsible
     Officer, which certificate shall state that said financial statements
     fairly present the consolidated and consolidating financial condition and
     results of operations of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries in
     accordance with


                                      -41-
<PAGE>

     GAAP, as at the end of, and for, such period (subject to normal year-end
     audit adjustments).

          (c)  Promptly after the Borrower knows that any Default or any
     Material Adverse Effect has occurred, a notice of such Default or Material
     Adverse Effect, describing the same in reasonable detail and the action the
     Borrower proposes to take with respect thereto.

          (d)  Promptly upon receipt thereof, a copy of each other report or
     letter submitted to the Borrower or any Subsidiary by independent
     accountants in connection with any annual, interim or special audit made by
     them of the books of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and a copy of any
     response by the Borrower or any Subsidiary or the Board of Directors of the
     Borrower or any Subsidiary to such letter or report.

          (e)  Promptly upon its becoming available, each financial statement,
     report, notice or proxy statement sent by the Borrower to stockholders
     generally and each regular or periodic report and any registration
     statement, prospectus or written communication (other than transmittal
     letters) in respect thereof filed by the Borrower with or received by the
     Borrower in connection therewith from any securities exchange or the SEC or
     any successor agency.

          (f)  Promptly after the furnishing thereof, copies of any statement,
     report or notice furnished to or any Person pursuant to the terms of any
     indenture, loan or credit or other similar agreement, other than this
     Agreement and not otherwise required to be furnished to the Lender pursuant
     to any other provision of this Section 8.01.

          (g)  From time to time such other information regarding the business,
     affairs or financial condition of the Borrower or any Subsidiary
     (including, without limitation, any Plan or Multiemployer Plan and any
     reports or other information required to be filed under ERISA) as the
     Lender may reasonably request.

The Borrower will furnish to the Lender, at the time it furnishes each set of
financial statements pursuant to paragraph (a) or (b) above, a certificate
substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto executed by a Responsible Officer
(i) certifying as to the matters set forth therein and stating that no Default
has occurred and is continuing (or, if any Default has occurred and is
continuing, describing the same in reasonable detail), and (ii) setting forth in
reasonable detail the computations necessary to determine whether the Borrower
is in compliance with Sections 9.12, 9.13 or 9.14 as of the end of the
respective fiscal quarter or fiscal year.

          Section 8.02  LITIGATION.  The Borrower shall promptly give to the
Lender notice of: (i)  all legal or arbitral proceedings, and of all proceedings
before any Governmental Authority affecting the Borrower or any Subsidiary,
except proceedings which, if adversely determined, would not have a Material
Adverse Effect, and (ii) of any litigation or proceeding against or adversely
affecting the Borrower or any Subsidiary in which the amount involved is not
covered in full by insurance (subject to normal and customary deductibles and
for which the insurer has


                                      -42-
<PAGE>

not assumed the defense), or in which injunctive or similar relief is sought.
The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, promptly notify
the Lender of any claim, judgment, Lien or other encumbrance affecting any
Property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary if the value of the claim, judgment,
Lien, or other encumbrance affecting such Property shall exceed $100,000.

          Section 8.03  MAINTENANCE, ETC.

          (a)  The Borrower shall and shall cause each Subsidiary to: preserve
     and maintain its corporate existence and all of its material rights,
     privileges and franchises; keep books of record and account in which full,
     true and correct entries will be made of all dealings or transactions in
     relation to its business and activities; comply with all Governmental
     Requirements if failure to comply with such requirements will have a
     Material Adverse Effect; pay and discharge all taxes, assessments and
     governmental charges or levies imposed on it or on its income or profits or
     on any of its Property prior to the date on which penalties attach thereto,
     except for any such tax, assessment, charge or levy the payment of which is
     being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings and against which
     adequate reserves are being maintained; upon reasonable notice, permit
     representatives of the Lender, during normal business hours, to examine,
     copy and make extracts from its books and records, to inspect its
     Properties, and to discuss its business and affairs with its officers, all
     to the extent reasonably requested by the Lender; and keep, or cause to be
     kept, insured by financially sound and reputable insurers all Property of a
     character usually insured by Persons engaged in the same or similar
     business similarly situated against loss or damage of the kinds and in the
     amounts customarily insured against by such Persons and carry such other
     insurance as is usually carried by such Persons including, without
     limitation, environmental risk insurance to the extent reasonably
     available.

          (b)  Contemporaneously with the delivery of the financial statements
     required by Section 8.01(a) to be delivered for each year, the Borrower
     will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Lender a certificate of
     insurance coverage from the insurer in form and substance satisfactory to
     the Lender and, if requested, will furnish the Lender copies of the
     applicable policies.

          (c)  The Borrower will and will cause each Subsidiary to operate its
     Properties or cause such Properties to be operated in a careful and
     efficient manner in accordance with the practices of the industry and in
     compliance with all applicable contracts and agreements and in compliance
     in all material respects with all Governmental Requirements.

          (d)  The Borrower will and will cause each Subsidiary to, at its own
     expense, do or cause to be done all things reasonably necessary to preserve
     and keep in good repair, working order and efficiency all of its Oil and
     Gas Properties and other material Properties including, without limitation,
     all equipment, machinery and facilities, and from time to time will make
     all the reasonably necessary repairs, renewals and replacements so


                                      -43-
<PAGE>

     that at all times the state and condition of its Oil and Gas Properties and
     other material Properties will be fully preserved and maintained, except to
     the extent a portion of such Properties is no longer capable of producing
     Hydrocarbons in economically reasonable amounts.  The Borrower will and
     will cause each Subsidiary to promptly: (i) pay and discharge, or make
     reasonable and customary efforts to cause to be paid and discharged, all
     delay rentals, royalties, expenses and indebtedness accruing under the
     leases or other agreements affecting or pertaining to its Oil and Gas
     Properties, (ii) perform or make reasonable and customary efforts to cause
     to be performed, in accordance with industry standards, the obligations
     required by each and all of the assignments, deeds, leases, sub-leases,
     contracts and agreements affecting its interests in its Oil and Gas
     Properties and other material Properties, (iii) will and will cause each
     Subsidiary to do all other things necessary to keep unimpaired, except for
     Liens described in Section 9.02, its rights with respect thereto and
     prevent any forfeiture thereof or a default thereunder, except to the
     extent a portion of such Properties is no longer capable of producing
     Hydrocarbons in economically reasonable amounts and except for dispositions
     permitted by Section 9.15 hereof.

          Section 8.04  ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS.

          (a)  The Borrower will and will cause each Subsidiary to establish and
     implement such procedures as may be reasonably necessary to continuously
     determine and assure that any failure of the following does not have a
     Material Adverse Effect: (i) all Property of the Borrower and its
     Subsidiaries and the operations conducted thereon and other activities of
     the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with and do not violate
     the requirements of any Environmental Laws, (ii) no oil, hazardous
     substances or solid wastes are disposed of or otherwise released on or to
     any Property owned by any such party except in compliance with
     Environmental Laws, (iii) no hazardous substance will be released on or to
     any such Property in a quantity equal to or exceeding that quantity which
     requires reporting pursuant to Section 103 of CERCLA, and (iv) no oil, oil
     and gas exploration and production wastes or hazardous substance is
     released on or to any such Property so as to pose an imminent and
     substantial endangerment to public health or welfare or the environment.

          (b)  The Borrower will promptly notify the Lender in writing of any
     threatened action, investigation or inquiry by any Governmental Authority
     of which the Borrower has knowledge in connection with any Environmental
     Laws, excluding routine testing and corrective action.

          (c)  The Borrower will and will cause each Subsidiary to provide
     environmental audits and tests in accordance with American Society for
     Testing and Materials standards as reasonably requested by the Lender (or
     as otherwise required to be obtained by the Lender by any Governmental
     Authority) in connection with any future acquisitions of Oil and Gas
     Properties or other material Properties.


                                      -44-
<PAGE>

          Section 8.05  FURTHER ASSURANCES.  The Borrower will and will cause
each Subsidiary to cure promptly any defects in the creation and issuance of the
Note and the execution and delivery of the Security Instruments and this
Agreement.  The Borrower at its expense will and will cause each Subsidiary to
promptly execute and deliver to the Lender upon request all such other
documents, agreements and instruments to comply with or accomplish the covenants
and agreements of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in the Security Instruments and
this Agreement, or to further evidence and more fully describe the collateral
intended as security for the Note, or to correct any omissions in the Security
Instruments, or state more fully the security obligations set out herein or in
any of the Security Instruments, or to perfect, protect or preserve any Liens
created pursuant to any of the Security Instruments, or to make any recordings,
to file any notices, or obtain any consents, all as may be necessary or
appropriate in connection therewith.

          Section 8.06  PERFORMANCE OF OBLIGATIONS.  The Borrower will pay the
Note according to the reading, tenor and effect thereof; and the Borrower will
and will cause each Subsidiary to do and perform every act and discharge all of
the obligations provided to be performed and discharged by them under the
Security Instruments and this Agreement, at the time or times and in the manner
specified.

          Section 8.07  ENGINEERING REPORTS.

          (a)  Not less than thirty (30) days prior to each Scheduled
     Redetermination Date, commencing with the Scheduled Redetermination Date to
     occur on March 15, 1997, the Borrower shall furnish to the Lender a Reserve
     Report.  The February 15 Reserve Report of each year shall be prepared by
     certified independent petroleum engineers or other independent petroleum
     consultant(s) acceptable to the Lender and the August 15 Reserve Report of
     each year shall be prepared by or under the supervision of the chief
     engineer of the Borrower who shall certify such Reserve Report to be true
     and accurate and to have been prepared in accordance with the procedures
     used in the immediately proceeding February 15 Reserve Report.

          (b)  In the event of an unscheduled redetermination, the Borrower
     shall furnish to the Lender a Reserve Report prepared by or under the
     supervision of the chief engineer of the Borrower who shall certify such
     Reserve Report to be true and accurate and to have been prepared in
     accordance with the procedures used in the immediately preceding Reserve
     Report.  For any unscheduled redetermination requested by the Lender, the
     Borrower shall provide such Reserve Report with an "as of" date as required
     by the Lender as soon as possible, but in any event no later than 30 days
     following the receipt of the request by the Lender.

          (c)  With the delivery of each Reserve Report, the Borrower shall
     provide to the Lender, a certificate from a Responsible Officer certifying
     that, to the best of his knowledge and in all material respects: (i) the
     information contained in the Reserve Report and any other information
     delivered in connection therewith is true and correct, (ii) the Borrower
     owns good and defensible title to the Oil and Gas Properties evaluated


                                      -45-
<PAGE>

     in such Reserve Report and such Properties are free of all Liens except for
     Liens permitted by Section 9.02, (iii) except as set forth on an exhibit to
     the certificate, on a net basis there are no gas imbalances, take or pay or
     other prepayments with respect to its Oil and Gas Properties evaluated in
     such Reserve Report which would require the Borrower to deliver
     Hydrocarbons produced from such Oil and Gas Properties at some future time
     without then or thereafter receiving full payment therefor, (iv) none of
     its Oil and Gas Properties have been sold since the date of the last
     Borrowing Base determination except as set forth on an exhibit to the
     certificate, which certificate shall list all of its Oil and Gas Properties
     sold and in such detail as reasonably required by the Lender, (v) attached
     to the certificate is a list of its Oil and Gas Properties added to and
     deleted from the immediately prior Reserve Report, (vi) attached to the
     certificate is a list of all Persons disbursing proceeds to the Borrower
     from its Oil and Gas Properties, (vii) except as set forth on a schedule
     attached to the certificate all of the Oil and Gas Properties evaluated by
     such Reserve Report are Mortgaged Property and (viii) any change in working
     interest or net revenue interest in its Oil and Gas Properties occurring
     and the reason for such change.

          (d)  As soon as available after the end of each fiscal quarter of each
     fiscal year of the Borrower, the Borrower shall provide to the Lender any
     changes in the list of purchasers provided to the Lender pursuant to
     Section 6.01(j).

          Section 8.08  TITLE INFORMATION.

          (a)  On or before the delivery to the Lender of each Reserve Report
     required by Section 8.07(a), the Borrower will deliver title information in
     form and substance acceptable to the Lender covering enough of the Oil and
     Gas Properties evaluated by such Reserve Report that were not included in
     the immediately preceding Reserve Report, so that the Lender shall have
     received together with title information previously delivered to the
     Lender, satisfactory title information on at least eighty percent (80%) of
     the value of the Oil and Gas Properties evaluated by such Reserve Report.

          (b)  The Borrower shall cure any title defects or exceptions which are
     not Excepted Liens raised by such information, or substitute acceptable
     Mortgaged Properties with no title defects or exceptions except for
     Excepted Liens covering Mortgaged Properties of an equivalent value, within
     90 days after a request by the Lender to cure such defects or exceptions.

          (c)  If the Borrower is unable to cure any title defect requested by
     the Lender to be cured within the 90 day period or the Borrower does not
     comply with the requirements to provide acceptable title information
     covering eighty percent (80%) of the value of the Oil and Gas Properties
     evaluated in the most recent Reserve Report, such default shall not be a
     Default or an Event of Default, but instead the Lender shall have the right
     to exercise the following remedy in their sole discretion from time to
     time, and any failure to so exercise this remedy at any time shall not be a
     waiver as to future exercise of the remedy by the Lender.  To the extent
     that the Lender is not satisfied with title to any Mortgaged Property after
     the time period in Section 8.08(b) has elapsed, such


                                      -46-
<PAGE>

     unacceptable Mortgaged Property shall not count towards the eighty percent
     (80%) requirement, and the Lender may send a notice to the Borrower and the
     Lender that the then outstanding Borrowing Base shall be reduced by an
     amount as determined by the Lender to cause the Borrower to be in
     compliance with the requirement to provide acceptable title information on
     eighty percent (80%) of the value of the Oil and Gas Properties.  This new
     Borrowing Base shall become effective immediately after receipt of such
     notice.

          Section 8.09  ADDITIONAL COLLATERAL.

          (a)  Should the Borrower acquire any additional Oil and Gas
     Properties, the Borrower will grant to the Lender as security for the
     Indebtedness a first-priority Lien interest (subject only to Excepted
     Liens) on the Borrower's interest in any Oil and Gas Properties not already
     subject to a Lien of the Security Instruments, which Lien will be created
     and perfected by and in accordance with the provisions of deeds of trust,
     security agreements and financing statements, or other Security
     Instruments, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Lender in its
     sole discretion and in sufficient executed (and acknowledged where
     necessary or appropriate) counterparts for recording purposes.

          (b)  Concurrently with the granting of the Lien or other action
     referred to in Section 8.07(a) above, the Borrower will provide to the
     Lender title information in form and substance satisfactory to the Lender
     in its sole discretion with respect to the Borrower's interests in such Oil
     and Gas Properties.

          Section 8.10  ERISA INFORMATION AND COMPLIANCE.  The Borrower will
promptly furnish and will cause the Subsidiaries and any ERISA Affiliate to
promptly furnish to the Lender (i) promptly after the filing thereof with the
United States Secretary of Labor, the Internal Revenue Service or the PBGC,
copies of each annual and other report with respect to each Plan or any trust
created thereunder, (ii) immediately upon becoming aware of the occurrence of
any ERISA Event or of any "prohibited transaction," as described in section 406
of ERISA or in section 4975 of the Code, in connection with any Plan or any
trust created thereunder, a written notice signed by a Responsible Officer
specifying the nature thereof, what action the Borrower, the Subsidiary or the
ERISA Affiliate is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto, and, when
known, any action taken or proposed by the Internal Revenue Service, the
Department of Labor or the PBGC with respect thereto, and (iii) immediately upon
receipt thereof, copies of any notice of the PBGC's intention to terminate or to
have a trustee appointed to administer any Plan.  With respect to each Plan
(other than a Multiemployer Plan), the Borrower will, and will cause each
Subsidiary and ERISA Affiliate to, (i) satisfy in full and in a timely manner,
without incurring any late payment or underpayment charge or penalty and without
giving rise to any lien, all of the contribution and funding requirements of
section 412 of the Code (determined without regard to subsections (d), (e), (f)
and (k) thereof) and of section 302 of ERISA (determined without regard to
sections 303, 304 and 306 of ERISA), and (ii) pay, or cause to be paid, to the
PBGC in a timely manner, without incurring any late payment or underpayment
charge or penalty, all premiums required pursuant to sections 4006 and 4007 of
ERISA.


                                      -47-
<PAGE>

          Section 8.11  MANAGEMENT.  Deas H. Warley, III shall remain as
Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of the Borrower.

          Section 8.12  NOTICE TO PURCHASERS OF HYDROCARBONS.  The Borrower
will, upon the request of the Lender, join with the Lender in notifying the
purchaser or purchasers of Hydrocarbons produced from the Borrower's Mortgaged
Properties of the existence of the Security Instruments and the provisions of
Section 4.05 of this Agreement, such notification to be in the form of the
letter-in-lieu attached hereto as Exhibit F.

          Section 8.13  SUMMIT ACQUISITION.  Prior to January 31, 1997, the
Borrower will acquire the remaining outstanding stock of Summit (the "SUMMIT
ACQUISTION").



                                   ARTICLE IX

                               NEGATIVE COVENANTS

     The Borrower covenants and agrees that, so long as the Commitment is in
effect and until payment in full of all Loans hereunder, all interest thereon
and all other amounts payable by the Borrower hereunder, without the prior
written consent of the Lender:

          Section 9.01  DEBT.  Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary will
incur, create, assume or suffer to exist any Debt, except:

          (a)  the Note or other Indebtedness or any guaranty of or suretyship
     arrangement for the Note or other Indebtedness;

          (b)  Debt of the Borrower existing on the Closing Date which is
     reflected in the Financial Statements or is disclosed in Schedule 9.01, and
     any renewals or extensions (but not increases) thereof;

          (c)  accounts payable (for the deferred purchase price of Property or
     services) from time to time incurred in the ordinary course of business
     which, if greater than 90 days past the invoice or billing date, are being
     contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings if reserves adequate
     under GAAP shall have been established therefor;

          (d)  Debt under capital leases (as required to be reported on the
     financial statements of the Borrower pursuant to GAAP) not to exceed
     $100,000;

          (e)  Debt of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries under Hedging
     Agreements with the Lender or otherwise approved by the Lender not to
     exceed 80% of projected proved developed producing volumes for commodities
     and not to exceed the notional amount of the debt for interest rates; and


                                      -48-
<PAGE>

          (f)  Debt associated with bonds or surety obligations required by
     Governmental Requirements in connection with the operation of the Oil and
     Gas Properties.

          (g)  other Debt not to exceed $200,000 in the aggregate at any time.

          Section 9.02  LIENS.  Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary will
create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any of its Properties (now
owned or hereafter acquired), except:

          (a)  Liens securing the payment of any Indebtedness;

          (b)  Excepted Liens;

          (c)  Liens securing leases allowed under Section 9.01(d) but only on
     the Property under lease;

          (d)  Liens disclosed on Schedule 9.02; and

          (e)  Liens on cash or securities of the Borrower securing the Debt
     described in Section 9.01(f).

          Section 9.03  INVESTMENTS, LOANS AND ADVANCES.  Neither the Borrower
nor any Subsidiary will make or permit to remain outstanding any loans or
advances to or investments in any Person, except that the foregoing restriction
shall not apply to:

          (a)  investments, loans or advances reflected in the Financial
     Statements or which are disclosed to the Lender in Schedule 9.03;

          (b)  accounts receivable arising in the ordinary course of business;

          (c)  direct obligations of the United States or any agency thereof, or
     obligations guaranteed by the United States or any agency thereof, in each
     case maturing within one year from the date of creation thereof;

          (d)  commercial paper maturing within one year from the date of
     creation thereof rated in the highest grade by Standard & Poors Corporation
     or Moody's Investors Service, Inc.;

          (e)  deposits maturing within one year from the date of creation
     thereof with, including certificates of deposit issued by, the Lender or
     any office located in the United States of any other bank or trust company
     which is organized under the laws of the United States or any state
     thereof, has capital, surplus and undivided profits aggregating at least
     $100,000,000.00 (as of the date of the Lender's or bank or trust company's
     most recent financial reports) and has a short term deposit rating of no
     lower than A2 or P2, as such


                                      -49-

<PAGE>

     rating is set forth from time to time, by Standard & Poors Corporation or
     Moody's Investors Service, Inc., respectively;

          (f)  deposits in money market funds investing exclusively in
     investments described in Section 9.03(c), 9.03(d) or 9.03(e);

          (g)  other investments, loans or advances not to exceed $50,000 in the
     aggregate at any time;

          (h)  investments by the Borrower in direct ownership interests in
     additional Oil and Gas Properties and gas gathering systems related
     thereto;

          (i)  an investment in 29,101 shares of stock of Enex Resources
     Corporation; and

          (j)  1,956,552 shares of common stock of Summit.

          Section 9.04  DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND REDEMPTIONS.  The Borrower
will not declare or pay any dividend, purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire for
value any of its stock now or hereafter outstanding, return any capital to its
stockholders or make any distribution of its assets to its stockholders, except
that the Borrower may (i) declare and deliver stock dividends and (ii) if no
Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, purchase
shares of its stock by the payment of cash in an amount not to exceed (A)
$20,000 during any calendar quarter and (B) $200,000 in the aggregate.

          Section 9.05  SALES AND LEASEBACKS.  Neither the Borrower nor any
Subsidiary will enter into any arrangement, directly or indirectly, with any
Person whereby the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall sell or transfer any of its
Property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and whereby the Borrower or
any Subsidiary shall then or thereafter rent or lease as lessee such Property or
any part thereof or other Property which the Borrower or any Subsidiary intends
to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the Property sold or
transferred.

          Section 9.06  NATURE OF BUSINESS.  Neither the Borrower nor any
Subsidiary will allow any material change to be made in the character of its
business as an independent oil and gas exploration and production company.

          Section 9.07  LIMITATION ON LEASES.  Neither the Borrower nor any
Subsidiary will create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any obligation for the
payment of rent or hire of Property of any kind whatsoever (real or personal
including capital leases but excluding leases of Hydrocarbon Interests), under
leases or lease agreements which would cause the aggregate amount of all
payments made by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries pursuant to all such leases
or lease agreements to exceed $150,000 in any period of twelve consecutive
calendar months during the life of such leases.


                                      -50-
<PAGE>

          Section 9.08  MERGERS, ETC.  Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary
will merge into or with or consolidate with any other Person, or sell, lease or
otherwise dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions)
all or substantially all of its Property or assets to any other Person, except
that (i) any Subsidiary may merge into, consolidate with or transfer any of its
Property to the  Borrower and (ii) any Subsidiary may merge with Summit provided
that immediately after giving effect thereto, no event shall occur and be
continuing which constitutes a Default or an Event of Default hereunder and
Summit shall be the surviving corporation.

          Section 9.09  PROCEEDS OF NOTE.  The Borrower will not permit the
proceeds of the Note to be used for any purpose other than those permitted by
Section 7.07.  Neither the Borrower nor any Person acting on behalf of the
Borrower has taken or will take any action which might cause any of the Loan
Documents to violate Regulation G, U or X or any other regulation of the Board
of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or to violate Section 7 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or any rule or regulation thereunder, in each
case as now in effect or as the same may hereinafter be in effect.

          Section 9.10  ERISA COMPLIANCE.  The Borrower will not at any time:

          (a)  Engage in, or permit any Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate to engage
     in, any transaction in connection with which the Borrower, any Subsidiary
     or any ERISA Affiliate could be subjected to either a civil penalty
     assessed pursuant to section 502(c), (i) or (l) of ERISA or a tax imposed
     by Chapter 43 of Subtitle D of the Code;

          (b)  Terminate, or permit any Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate to
     terminate, any Plan in a manner, or take any other action with respect to
     any Plan, which could result in any liability to the Borrower, any
     Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate to the PBGC;

          (c)  Fail to make, or permit any Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate to fail
     to make, full payment when due of all amounts which, under the provisions
     of any Plan, agreement relating thereto or applicable law, the Borrower, a
     Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate is required to pay as contributions
     thereto;

          (d)  Permit to exist, or allow any Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate to
     permit to exist, any accumulated funding deficiency within the meaning of
     Section 302 of ERISA or section 412 of the Code, whether or not waived,
     with respect to any Plan;

          (e)  Permit, or allow any Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate to permit, the
     actuarial present value of the benefit liabilities under any Plan
     maintained by the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate which is
     regulated under Title IV of ERISA to exceed the current value of the assets
     (computed on a plan termination basis in accordance with Title IV of ERISA)
     of such Plan allocable to such benefit liabilities.  The term "actuarial
     present value of the benefit liabilities" shall have the meaning specified
     in section 4041 of ERISA;


                                      -51-
<PAGE>

          (f)  Contribute to or assume an obligation to contribute to, or permit
     any Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate to contribute to or assume an obligation
     to contribute to, any Multiemployer Plan;

          (g)  Acquire, or permit any Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate to acquire,
     an interest in any Person that causes such Person to become an ERISA
     Affiliate with respect to the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA
     Affiliate if such Person sponsors, maintains or contributes to, or at any
     time in the six-year period preceding such acquisition has sponsored,
     maintained, or contributed to, (1) any Multiemployer Plan, or (2) any other
     Plan that is subject to Title IV of ERISA under which the actuarial present
     value of the benefit liabilities under such Plan exceeds the current value
     of the assets (computed on a plan termination basis in accordance with
     Title IV of ERISA) of such Plan allocable to such benefit liabilities;

          (h)  Incur, or permit any Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate to incur, a
     liability to or on account of a Plan under sections 515, 4062, 4063, 4064,
     4201 or 4204 of ERISA;

          (i)  Contribute to or assume an obligation to contribute to, or permit
     any Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate to contribute to or assume an obligation
     to contribute to, any employee welfare benefit plan, as defined in section
     3(1) of ERISA, including, without limitation, any such plan maintained to
     provide benefits to former employees of such entities, that may not be
     terminated by such entities in their sole discretion at any time without
     any material liability; or

          (j)  Amend or permit any Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate to amend, a
     Plan resulting in an increase in current liability such that the Borrower,
     any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate is required to provide security to
     such Plan under section 401(a)(29) of the Code.

          Section 9.11  SALE OR DISCOUNT OF RECEIVABLES.  Neither the Borrower
nor any Subsidiary will discount or sell (with or without recourse) any of its
notes receivable or accounts receivable.

          Section 9.12  CURRENT RATIO.  The Borrower will not permit its ratio
of (i) consolidated current assets to (ii) consolidated current liabilities
(excluding current maturities of the Note) to be less than 1.0 to 1.0 at any
time.  For purposes of this Section 9.12, "CONSOLIDATED CURRENT ASSETS" shall
mean assets which would, in accordance with GAAP, be included as current assets
on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and
"CONSOLIDATED CURRENT LIABILITIES" shall mean liabilities which would, in
accordance with GAAP, be included as current liabilities on a consolidated
balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

          Section 9.13  TANGIBLE NET WORTH.  The Borrower will not permit its
Tangible Net Worth to be less than $5,000,000 at any time.

                                      -52-
<PAGE>

          Section 9.14  CASH FLOW COVERAGE.  The Borrower will not permit its
Cash Flow Coverage Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter of the Borrower
(calculated quarterly at the end of each fiscal quarter) to be greater than 5.0
to 1.00 for any fiscal quarter.  For the purposes of this Section 9.14, "CASH
FLOW COVERAGE RATIO" shall mean the ratio of (i) consolidated liabilities
excluding current trade payables and deferred taxes to (ii) annualized
Consolidated Net Income for each fiscal quarter as determined in accordance with
GAAP, plus non-cash charges and dry hole expense, less non-cash revenues.

          Section 9.15  SALE OF OIL AND GAS PROPERTIES.  The Borrower will not,
and will not permit any Subsidiary to, sell, assign, farm-out, convey or
otherwise transfer any Oil and Gas Property or any interest in any Oil and Gas
Property except for (i) the sale of Hydrocarbons in the ordinary course of
business; (ii) farmouts of undeveloped acreage and assignments in connection
with such farmouts; (iii) the sale or transfer of equipment that is no longer
necessary for the business of the Borrower or such Subsidiary or is replaced by
equipment of at least comparable value and use and (iv) sales in the ordinary
course of business and between Scheduled Redetermination Dates of Oil and Gas
Properties which shall not exceed $250,000 in the aggregate.

          Section 9.16   ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS.  Neither the Borrower nor any
Subsidiary will cause or permit any of its Property to be in violation of, or do
anything or permit anything to be done which will subject any such Property to
any remedial obligations under any Environmental Laws, assuming disclosure to
the applicable Governmental Authority of all relevant facts, conditions and
circumstances, if any, pertaining to such Property where such violations or
remedial obligations would have a Material Adverse Effect.

          Section 9.17  TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES.  Neither the Borrower nor
any  Subsidiary will enter into any transaction, including, without limitation,
any purchase, sale, lease or exchange of Property or the rendering of any
service, with any Affiliate unless such transactions are otherwise permitted
under this Agreement, are in the ordinary course of its business and are upon
fair and reasonable terms no less favorable to it than it would obtain in a
comparable arm's length transaction with a Person not an Affiliate.

          Section 9.18  SUBSIDIARIES.  The Borrower shall not create any
additional Subsidiaries.  The Borrower shall not and shall not permit any
Subsidiary to sell or to issue any stock or ownership interest of a Subsidiary
except to the Borrower or any Guarantor and except in compliance with Section
9.03.

          Section 9.19  NEGATIVE PLEDGE AGREEMENTS.  Neither the Borrower nor
any Subsidiary will create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any contract,
agreement or understanding (other than this Agreement and the Security
Instruments) which in any way prohibits or restricts the granting, conveying,
creation or imposition of any Lien on any of its Property or restricts any
Subsidiary from paying dividends to the Borrower, or which requires the consent
of or notice to other Persons in connection therewith.


                                      -53-
<PAGE>

          Section 9.20  GAS IMBALANCES, TAKE-OR-PAY OR OTHER PREPAYMENTS.  The
Borrower will not allow gas imbalances, take-or-pay or other prepayments with
respect to the Oil and Gas Properties of the Borrower or any Guarantor which
would require the Borrower or any Guarantor to deliver Hydrocarbons produced on
Oil and Gas Properties at some future time without then or thereafter receiving
full payment therefor to exceed 1,000,000 cubic feet of gas in the aggregate on
a net basis for the Borrower and the Guarantors.

          Section 9.21  ACCOUNTS.  Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary will
maintain a checking, savings or deposit account with any financial institution,
except (i) those accounts maintained with the Lender and (ii) any accounts with
an aggregate balance of $100,000 or less.


                                    ARTICLE X

                           EVENTS OF DEFAULT; REMEDIES

          Section 10.01  EVENTS OF DEFAULT.  One or more of the following events
shall constitute an "EVENT OF DEFAULT":

          (a)  the Borrower shall default in the payment or prepayment when due
     of any principal of or interest on any Loan, of any reimbursement
     obligation for a disbursement made under any Letter of Credit, or any fees
     or other amount payable by it hereunder or under any Security Instrument
     and such default, other than a default of a payment or prepayment of
     principal or interest, shall continue unremedied for a period of three
     (3) Business Days; or

          (b)  the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall default in the payment when
     due of any principal of or interest on any of its other Debt aggregating
     $200,000 or more, or any event specified in any note, agreement, indenture
     or other document evidencing or relating to any such Debt shall occur if
     the effect of such event is to cause, or (with the giving of any notice or
     the lapse of time or both) to permit the holder or holders of such Debt (or
     a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders) to cause, such Debt
     to become due prior to its stated maturity; or

          (c)  any representation, warranty or certification made or deemed made
     herein or in any Security Instrument by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or
     any certificate furnished to the Lender pursuant to the provisions hereof
     or any Security Instrument, shall prove to have been false or misleading as
     of the time made or furnished in any material respect; or

          (d)  the Borrower shall default in the performance of any of its
     obligations under Article IX or any other Article of this Agreement other
     than under Article VIII; or the Borrower shall default in the performance
     of any of its obligations under Article VIII or any Security Instrument
     (other than the payment of amounts due which shall be governed by Section
     10.01(a)) and such default shall continue unremedied for a period


                                      -54-
<PAGE>

     of thirty (30) days after the earlier to occur of (i) notice thereof to the
     Borrower by the Lender or (ii) the Borrower otherwise becoming aware of
     such default; or

          (e)  the Borrower shall admit in writing its inability to, or be
     generally unable to, pay its debts as such debts become due; or

          (f)  the Borrower shall (i) apply for or consent to the appointment
     of, or the taking of possession by, a receiver, custodian, trustee or
     liquidator of itself or of all or a substantial part of its property,
     (ii) make a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors,
     (iii) commence a voluntary case under the Federal Bankruptcy Code (as now
     or hereafter in effect), (iv) file a petition seeking to take advantage of
     any other law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, winding-
     up, liquidation or composition or readjustment of debts, (v) fail to
     controvert in a timely and appropriate manner, or acquiesce in writing to,
     any petition filed against it in an involuntary case under the Federal
     Bankruptcy Code, or (vi) take any corporate action for the purpose of
     effecting any of the foregoing; or

          (g)  a proceeding or case shall be commenced, without the application
     or consent of the Borrower, in any court of competent jurisdiction, seeking
     (i) its liquidation, reorganization, dissolution or winding-up, or the
     composition or readjustment of its debts, (ii) the appointment of a
     trustee, receiver, custodian, liquidator or the like of the Borrower of all
     or any substantial part of its assets, or (iii) similar relief in respect
     of the Borrower under any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency,
     reorganization, winding-up, or composition or adjustment of debts, and such
     proceeding or case shall continue undismissed, or an order, judgment or
     decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered and
     continue unstayed and in effect, for a period of 60 days; or (iv) an order
     for relief against the Borrower shall be entered in an involuntary case
     under the Federal Bankruptcy Code; or

          (h)  a judgment or judgments for the payment of money in excess of
     $250,000 in the aggregate shall be rendered by a court against the Borrower
     or any Subsidiary and the same shall not be discharged (or provision shall
     not be made for such discharge), or a stay of execution thereof shall not
     be procured, within thirty (30) days from the date of entry thereof and the
     Borrower or such Subsidiary shall not, within said period of 30 days, or
     such longer period during which execution of the same shall have been
     stayed, appeal therefrom and cause the execution thereof to be stayed
     during such appeal; or

          (i)  the Security Instruments after delivery thereof shall for any
     reason, except to the extent permitted by the terms thereof, cease to be in
     full force and effect and valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with
     their terms, or cease to create a valid and perfected Lien of the priority
     required thereby on any of the collateral purported to be covered thereby,
     except to the extent permitted by the terms of this Agreement, or the
     Borrower shall so state in writing; or


                                      -55-
<PAGE>

          (j)  any Letter of Credit becomes the subject matter of any order,
     judgment, injunction or any other such determination, or if the Borrower or
     any other Person shall petition or apply for or obtain any order
     restricting payment by the Lender under any Letter of Credit or extending
     the Lender's liability under any Letter of Credit beyond the expiration
     date stated therein or otherwise agreed to by the Lender; or

          (k)  the Borrower discontinues its usual business or suffers to exist
     any material change in its ownership, control or management; or

          (l)  any Guarantor takes, suffers or permits to exist any of the
     events or conditions referred to in paragraphs (e), (f), (g) or (h) hereof
     or if any provision of any guaranty agreement related thereto shall for any
     reason cease to be valid and binding on such Guarantor or if such Guarantor
     shall so state in writing; or

          (m)  any Subsidiary takes, suffers or permits to exist any of the
     events or conditions referred to in paragraphs (e), (f), (g) or (h) hereof.

          Section 10.02  REMEDIES.

          (a)  In the case of an Event of Default other than one referred to in
     clauses (e), (f) or (g) of Section 10.01 or in clauses (l) of (m) to the
     extent it relates to clauses (e), (f) or (g), the Lender shall, by notice
     to the Borrower, cancel the Commitment and/or declare the principal amount
     then outstanding of, and the accrued interest on, the Loans and all other
     amounts payable by the Borrower hereunder and under the Note (including
     without limitation the payment of cash collateral to secure the LC Exposure
     as provided in Section 2.10(b) hereof) to be forthwith due and payable,
     whereupon such amounts shall be immediately due and payable without
     presentment, demand, protest, notice of intent to accelerate, notice of
     acceleration or other formalities of any kind, all of which are hereby
     expressly waived by the Borrower.

          (b)  In the case of the occurrence of an Event of Default referred to
     in clauses (e), (f) or (g) of Section 10.01 or in clauses (l) or (m) to the
     extent it relates to clauses (e), (f) or (g), the Commitment shall be
     automatically cancelled and the principal amount then outstanding of, and
     the accrued interest on, the Loans and all other amounts payable by the
     Borrower hereunder and under the Note (including without limitation the
     payment of cash collateral to secure the LC Exposure as provided in Section
     2.10(b) hereof) shall become automatically immediately due and payable
     without presentment, demand, protest, notice of intent to accelerate,
     notice of acceleration or other formalities of any kind, all of which are
     hereby expressly waived by the Borrower.

          (c)  All proceeds received after maturity of the Note, whether by
     acceleration or otherwise shall be applied first to reimbursement of
     expenses and indemnities provided for in this Agreement and the Security
     Instruments; second to accrued interest on the Note; third to fees; fourth
     to principal outstanding on the Note and other Indebtedness; fifth to serve
     as cash collateral to be held by the Lender to secure the LC Exposure; and,


                                      -56-
<PAGE>

     to the extent of any excess, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by
     any Governmental Requirement.


                                   ARTICLE XI

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

          Section 11.01  WAIVER.  No failure on the part of the Lender to
exercise and no delay in exercising, and no course of dealing with respect to,
any right, power or privilege under any of the Loan Documents shall operate as a
waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, power or
privilege under any of the Loan Documents preclude any other or further exercise
thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege.  The remedies
provided herein are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by
law.

          Section 11.02  NOTICES.  All notices and other communications provided
for herein and in the other Loan Documents (including, without limitation, any
modifications of, or waivers or consents under, this Agreement or the other Loan
Documents) shall be given or made by telex, telecopy, courier or U.S. Mail or in
writing and telexed, telecopied, mailed or delivered to the intended recipient
at the "Address for Notices" specified below its name on the signature pages
hereof or in the Loan Documents, except that for notices and other
communications to the Lender other than payment of money, the Borrower need only
send such notices and communications to the Lender care of the Houston address
of First Union Corporation; or, as to any party, at such other address as shall
be designated by such party in a notice to each other party.  Except as
otherwise provided in this Agreement or in the other Loan Documents, all such
communications shall be deemed to have been duly given when transmitted, if
transmitted before 1:00 p.m. local time on a Business Day (otherwise on the next
succeeding Business Day) by telex or telecopier and evidence or confirmation of
receipt is obtained, or personally delivered or, in the case of a mailed notice,
three (3) Business Days after the date deposited in the mails, postage prepaid,
in each case given or addressed as aforesaid.

          Section 11.03  PAYMENT OF EXPENSES, INDEMNITIES, ETC.  The Borrower
agrees:

          (a)  whether or not the transactions hereby contemplated are
     consummated, to pay all reasonable expenses of the Lender in the
     administration (both before and after the execution hereof and including
     advice of counsel as to the rights and duties of the Lender with respect
     thereto) of, and in connection with the negotiation, syndication,
     investigation, preparation, execution and delivery of, recording or filing
     of, preservation of rights under, enforcement of, and refinancing,
     renegotiation or restructuring of, the Loan Documents and any amendment,
     waiver or consent relating thereto (including, without limitation, travel,
     photocopy, mailing, courier, telephone and other similar expenses of the
     Lender, the cost of environmental audits, surveys and appraisals at
     reasonable intervals, the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel and
     other outside consultants for the Lender and, in the case of enforcement,
     the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Lender); and
     promptly reimburse the Lender for all amounts expended, advanced or


                                      -57-
<PAGE>

     incurred by the Lender to satisfy any obligation of the Borrower under this
     Agreement or any Security Instrument, including without limitation, all
     costs and expenses of foreclosure;

          (b)  TO INDEMNIFY THE LENDER AND ITS AFFILIATES AND EACH OF THEIR
     OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, REPRESENTATIVES, AGENTS, ATTORNEYS,
     ACCOUNTANTS AND EXPERTS ("INDEMNIFIED PARTIES") FROM, HOLD EACH OF THEM
     HARMLESS AGAINST AND PROMPTLY UPON DEMAND PAY OR REIMBURSE EACH OF THEM
     FOR, THE INDEMNITY MATTERS WHICH MAY BE INCURRED BY OR ASSERTED AGAINST OR
     INVOLVE ANY OF THEM (WHETHER OR NOT ANY OF THEM IS DESIGNATED A PARTY
     THERETO) AS A RESULT OF, ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATED TO (I) ANY
     ACTUAL OR PROPOSED USE BY THE BORROWER OF THE PROCEEDS OF ANY OF THE LOANS,
     (II) THE EXECUTION, DELIVERY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE LOAN DOCUMENTS, (III)
     THE OPERATIONS OF THE BUSINESS OF THE BORROWER AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES, (IV)
     THE FAILURE OF THE BORROWER OR ANY SUBSIDIARY TO COMPLY WITH THE TERMS OF
     ANY SECURITY INSTRUMENT OR THIS AGREEMENT, OR WITH ANY GOVERNMENTAL
     REQUIREMENT, (V) ANY INACCURACY OF ANY REPRESENTATION OR ANY BREACH OF ANY
     WARRANTY OF THE BORROWER OR ANY GUARANTOR SET FORTH IN ANY OF THE LOAN
     DOCUMENTS, (VI) THE ISSUANCE, EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OR TRANSFER OF OR
     PAYMENT OR FAILURE TO PAY UNDER ANY LETTER OF CREDIT, OR (VII) THE PAYMENT
     OF A DRAWING UNDER ANY LETTER OF CREDIT NOTWITHSTANDING THE NON-COMPLIANCE,
     NON-DELIVERY OR OTHER IMPROPER PRESENTATION OF THE MANUALLY EXECUTED
     DRAFT(S) AND CERTIFICATION(S), (VIII) ANY ASSERTION THAT THE LENDER WAS NOT
     ENTITLED TO RECEIVE THE PROCEEDS RECEIVED PURSUANT TO THE SECURITY
     INSTRUMENTS OR (IX) ANY OTHER ASPECT OF THE LOAN DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING,
     WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE REASONABLE FEES AND DISBURSEMENTS OF COUNSEL AND
     ALL OTHER EXPENSES INCURRED IN CONNECTION WITH INVESTIGATING, DEFENDING OR
     PREPARING TO DEFEND ANY SUCH ACTION, SUIT, PROCEEDING (INCLUDING ANY
     INVESTIGATIONS, LITIGATION OR INQUIRIES) OR CLAIM AND INCLUDING ALL
     INDEMNITY MATTERS ARISING BY REASON OF THE ORDINARY NEGLIGENCE OF ANY
     INDEMNIFIED PARTY, BUT EXCLUDING ALL INDEMNITY MATTERS ARISING SOLELY BY
     REASON OF CLAIMS OF THE LENDER'S SHAREHOLDERS AGAINST THE LENDER OR BY
     REASON OF THE GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT ON THE PART OF THE
     INDEMNIFIED PARTY; AND

          (c)  TO INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS FROM TIME TO TIME THE INDEMNIFIED
     PARTY FROM AND AGAINST ANY AND ALL LOSSES, CLAIMS, COST RECOVERY ACTIONS,
     ADMINISTRATIVE ORDERS OR PROCEEDINGS, DAMAGES AND LIABILITIES TO WHICH ANY
     SUCH PERSON MAY BECOME SUBJECT (I) UNDER ANY ENVIRONMENTAL LAW APPLICABLE
     TO THE BORROWER OR ANY SUBSIDIARY OR ANY OF THEIR PROPERTIES, INCLUDING
     WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE TREATMENT OR DISPOSAL OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES ON
     ANY OF THEIR PROPERTIES, (II) AS A RESULT OF THE BREACH OR NON-COMPLIANCE
     BY THE BORROWER OR ANY SUBSIDIARY WITH ANY ENVIRONMENTAL LAW APPLICABLE TO
     THE BORROWER OR ANY SUBSIDIARY, (III) DUE TO PAST OWNERSHIP BY THE BORROWER
     OR ANY SUBSIDIARY OF ANY OF THEIR


                                      -58-
<PAGE>

     PROPERTIES OR PAST ACTIVITY ON ANY OF THEIR PROPERTIES WHICH, THOUGH LAWFUL
     AND FULLY PERMISSIBLE AT THE TIME, COULD RESULT IN PRESENT LIABILITY, (IV)
     THE PRESENCE, USE, RELEASE, STORAGE, TREATMENT OR DISPOSAL OF HAZARDOUS
     SUBSTANCES ON OR AT ANY OF THE PROPERTIES OWNED OR OPERATED BY THE BORROWER
     OR ANY SUBSIDIARY, OR (V) ANY OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH OR SAFETY
     CONDITION IN CONNECTION WITH THE LOAN DOCUMENTS, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, NO
     INDEMNITY SHALL BE AFFORDED UNDER THIS SECTION 11.03(C) IN RESPECT OF ANY
     PROPERTY FOR ANY OCCURRENCE ARISING FROM THE ACTS OR OMISSIONS OF THE
     LENDER DURING THE PERIOD AFTER WHICH SUCH PERSON, ITS SUCCESSORS OR ASSIGNS
     SHALL HAVE OBTAINED POSSESSION OF SUCH PROPERTY (WHETHER BY FORECLOSURE OR
     DEED IN LIEU OF FORECLOSURE, AS MORTGAGEE-IN-POSSESSION OR OTHERWISE).

          (d)  No Indemnified Party may settle any claim to be indemnified
     without the consent of the indemnitor, such consent not to be unreasonably
     withheld; provided, that the indemnitor may not reasonably withhold consent
     to any settlement that an Indemnified Party proposes, if the indemnitor
     does not have the financial ability to pay all its obligations outstanding
     and asserted against the indemnitor at that time, including the maximum
     potential claims against the Indemnified Party to be indemnified pursuant
     to this Section 11.03.

          (e)  In the case of any indemnification hereunder, the Lender shall
     give notice to the Borrower of any such claim or demand being made against
     the Indemnified Party and the Borrower shall have the non-exclusive right
     to join in the defense against any such claim or demand provided that if
     the Borrower provides a defense, the Indemnified Party shall bear its own
     cost of defense unless there is a conflict between the Borrower and such
     Indemnified Party.

          (f)  THE FOREGOING INDEMNITIES SHALL EXTEND TO THE INDEMNIFIED PARTIES
     NOTWITHSTANDING THE SOLE OR CONCURRENT NEGLIGENCE OF EVERY KIND OR
     CHARACTER WHATSOEVER, WHETHER ACTIVE OR PASSIVE, WHETHER AN AFFIRMATIVE ACT
     OR AN OMISSION, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, ALL TYPES OF NEGLIGENT
     CONDUCT IDENTIFIED IN THE RESTATEMENT (SECOND) OF TORTS OF ONE OR MORE OF
     THE INDEMNIFIED PARTIES OR BY REASON OF STRICT LIABILITY IMPOSED WITHOUT
     FAULT ON ANY ONE OR MORE OF THE INDEMNIFIED PARTIES.  TO THE EXTENT THAT AN
     INDEMNIFIED PARTY IS FOUND TO HAVE COMMITTED AN ACT OF GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR
     WILLFUL MISCONDUCT, THIS CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION OF INDEMNIFICATION SHALL
     CONTINUE BUT SHALL ONLY EXTEND TO THE PORTION OF THE CLAIM THAT IS DEEMED
     TO HAVE OCCURRED BY REASON OF EVENTS OTHER THAN THE GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR
     WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OF THE INDEMNIFIED PARTY.

          (g)  The Borrower's obligations under this Section 11.03 shall survive
     any termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Note and shall
     continue thereafter in full force and effect.


                                      -59-
<PAGE>

          (h)  The Borrower shall pay any amounts due under this Section 11.03
     within thirty (30) days of the receipt by the Borrower of notice of the
     amount due.

          Section 11.04  AMENDMENTS, ETC.  Any provision of this Agreement or
any Security Instrument may be amended, modified or waived with the Borrower's
and the Lender's prior written consent.

          Section 11.05  SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.  This Agreement shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective
successors and permitted assigns.

          Section 11.06  ASSIGNMENTS AND PARTICIPATIONS.

          (a)  The Borrower may not assign its rights or obligations hereunder
     or under the Note or any Letters of Credit without the prior consent of the
     Lender.

          (b)  The Lender may, upon the written consent of the Borrower (which
     consent shall not be unreasonably withheld) assign to one or more assignees
     all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement.  Any
     assignment will become effective upon the execution and delivery of the
     assignment to the Borrower. Upon receipt and acceptance of such executed
     assignment, the Borrower, will, at its own expense, execute and deliver a
     new Note to the assignor and/or assignee, as appropriate, in accordance
     with their respective interests as they appear.  Upon the effectiveness of
     any assignment pursuant to this Section 11.06(b), the assignee will become
     a "Lender," if not already a "Lender," for all purposes of this Agreement
     and the Security Instruments.  The assignor shall be relieved of its
     obligations hereunder to the extent of such assignment (and if the
     assigning Lender no longer holds any rights or obligations under this
     Agreement, such assigning Lender shall cease to be a "Lender" hereunder
     except that its rights under Sections 4.04, 5.01, 5.05 and 11.03 shall not
     be affected).

          (c)  The Lender may transfer, grant or assign participations in all or
     any part of its interests hereunder pursuant to this Section 11.06(c) to
     any Person, PROVIDED that: (i) the Lender shall remain the "Lender" for all
     purposes of this Agreement and the transferee of such participation shall
     not constitute a "Lender" hereunder; and (ii) no participant under any such
     participation shall have rights to approve any amendment to or waiver of
     any of the Loan Documents except to the extent such amendment or waiver
     would (x) extend the final maturity of the Loans, (y) reduce the interest
     rate (other than as a result of waiving the applicability of any post-
     default increases in interest rates) or fees applicable to any of the
     Commitment or Loans or Letters of Credit in which such participant is
     participating, or postpone the payment of any thereof, or (z) release all
     or substantially all of the collateral (except as expressly provided in the
     Security Instruments) supporting any of the Commitment or Loans or Letters
     of Credit in which such participant is participating.  In the case of any
     such participation, the participant shall not have any rights under this
     Agreement or any of the Security Instruments (the participant's rights
     against the Lender in respect of such participation to be those set forth
     in the agreement creating such participation), and all amounts payable by
     the Borrower hereunder shall be


                                      -60-
<PAGE>

     determined as if the Lender had not sold such participation, PROVIDED that
     such participant shall be entitled to receive additional amounts under
     Article V on the same basis as if it were a Lender and be indemnified under
     Section 11.03 as if it were a Lender.  In addition, each agreement creating
     any participation must include an agreement by the participant to be bound
     by the provisions of Section 11.15.

          (d)  The Lender may furnish any information concerning the Borrower in
     its possession from time to time to assignees and participants (including
     prospective assignees and participants); provided that, such Persons agree
     to be bound by the provisions of Section 11.15 hereof.

          (e)  Notwithstanding anything in this Section 11.06 to the contrary,
     the Lender may assign and pledge the Note to any Federal Reserve Bank or
     the United States Treasury as collateral security pursuant to Regulation A
     of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and any operating
     circular issued by such Federal Reserve System and/or such Federal Reserve
     Bank.  No such assignment and/or pledge shall release the Lender from its
     obligations hereunder.

          (f)  Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 11.06, no
     transfer or assignment of the interests or obligations of the Lender or any
     grant of participations therein shall be permitted if such transfer,
     assignment or grant would require the Borrower to file a registration
     statement with the SEC or to qualify the Loans under the "Blue Sky" laws of
     any state.

          Section 11.07  INVALIDITY.  In the event that any one or more of the
provisions contained in any of the Loan Documents or the Letters of Credit, the
Letter of Credit Agreements shall, for any reason, be held invalid, illegal or
unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability
shall not affect any other provision of any of the other Loan Documents.

          Section 11.08  COUNTERPARTS.  This Agreement may be executed in any
number of counterparts, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the
same instrument and any of the parties hereto may execute this Agreement by
signing any such counterpart.

          Section 11.09  REFERENCES.  The words "herein," "hereof," "hereunder"
and other words of similar import when used in this Agreement refer to this
Agreement as a whole, and not to any particular article, section or subsection.
Any reference herein to a Section shall be deemed to refer to the applicable
Section of this Agreement unless otherwise stated herein.  Any reference herein
to an exhibit or schedule shall be deemed to refer to the applicable exhibit or
schedule attached hereto unless otherwise stated herein.

          Section 11.10  SURVIVAL. The obligations of the parties under Section
4.04, Article V, and Sections 11.03 and 11.15 shall survive the repayment of the
Loans and the termination of the Commitment.  To the extent that any payments on
the Indebtedness or proceeds of any collateral are subsequently invalidated,
declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or


                                      -61-
<PAGE>

required to be repaid to a trustee, debtor in possession, receiver or other
Person under any bankruptcy law, common law or equitable cause, then to such
extent, the Indebtedness so satisfied shall be revived and continue as if such
payment or proceeds had not been received and the Lender's Liens, security
interests, rights, powers and remedies under this Agreement and each Security
Instrument shall continue in full force and effect.  In such event, each
Security Instrument shall be automatically reinstated and the Borrower shall
take such action as may be reasonably requested by the Lender to effect such
reinstatement.

          Section 11.11  CAPTIONS.  Captions and section headings appearing
herein are included solely for convenience of reference and are not intended to
affect the interpretation of any provision of this Agreement.

          Section 11.12  NO ORAL AGREEMENTS.  THE LOAN DOCUMENTS EMBODY THE
ENTIRE AGREEMENT AND UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND SUPERSEDE ALL OTHER
AGREEMENTS AND UNDERSTANDINGS BETWEEN SUCH PARTIES RELATING TO THE SUBJECT
MATTER HEREOF AND THEREOF.  THE LOAN DOCUMENTS REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR,
CONTEMPORANEOUS OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES.  THERE ARE NO
UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES.

          Section 11.13  GOVERNING LAW; SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION.

          (A)  THIS AGREEMENT AND THE NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED
     IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT
     THAT UNITED STATES FEDERAL LAW PERMITS THE LENDER TO CHARGE INTEREST AT THE
     RATE ALLOWED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE WHERE THE LENDER IS LOCATED.  TEX.
     REV. CIV. STAT. ANN. ART. 5069, CH. 15 (WHICH REGULATES CERTAIN REVOLVING
     CREDIT LOAN ACCOUNTS AND REVOLVING TRI-PARTY ACCOUNTS) SHALL NOT APPLY TO
     THIS AGREEMENT OR THE NOTES.

          (B)  ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO THE LOAN DOCUMENTS
     SHALL BE BROUGHT IN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS OR OF THE UNITED
     STATES OF AMERICA FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS, AND, BY EXECUTION AND
     DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT, THE BORROWER HEREBY ACCEPTS FOR ITSELF AND (TO
     THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW) IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, GENERALLY AND
     UNCONDITIONALLY, THE JURISDICTION OF THE AFORESAID COURTS.  THE BORROWER
     HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY
     OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OR BASED ON THE GROUNDS OF FORUM NON
     CONVENIENS, WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE BRINGING OF ANY SUCH
     ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN SUCH RESPECTIVE JURISDICTIONS.  THIS SUBMISSION TO
     JURISDICTION IS NON-EXCLUSIVE AND DOES NOT PRECLUDE THE LENDER FROM
     OBTAINING JURISDICTION OVER THE BORROWER IN ANY COURT OTHERWISE HAVING
     JURISDICTION.


                                      -62-
<PAGE>

          (C)  EACH OF THE BORROWER AND THE LENDER HEREBY (I) IRREVOCABLY AND
     UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVE, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, TRIAL BY
     JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY
     SECURITY INSTRUMENT AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN; (II) IRREVOCABLY
     WAIVE, TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT NOT PROHIBITED BY LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE
     TO CLAIM OR RECOVER IN ANY SUCH LITIGATION ANY SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, PUNITIVE
     OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, OR DAMAGES OTHER THAN, OR IN ADDITION TO, ACTUAL
     DAMAGES; (III) CERTIFY THAT NO PARTY HERETO NOR ANY REPRESENTATIVE OR AGENT
     OF COUNSEL FOR ANY PARTY HERETO HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, OR
     IMPLIED THAT SUCH PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO
     ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVERS, AND (IV) ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT HAS BEEN
     INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT, THE SECURITY INSTRUMENTS AND THE
     TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE
     MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS CONTAINED IN THIS SECTION 11.13.

          Section 11.14  INTEREST.  It is the intention of the parties hereto
that Lender shall conform strictly to usury laws applicable to it.  Accordingly,
if the transactions contemplated hereby would be usurious as to the Lender under
laws applicable to it (including the laws of the United States of America and
the State of Texas or any other jurisdiction whose laws may be mandatorily
applicable to the Lender notwithstanding the other provisions of this
Agreement), then, in that event, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the
Loan Documents or any agreement entered into in connection with or as security
for the Note, it is agreed as follows:  (i) the aggregate of all consideration
which constitutes interest under law applicable to the Lender that is contracted
for, taken, reserved, charged or received by the Lender any of the Loan
Documents or agreements or otherwise in connection with the Note shall under no
circumstances exceed the maximum amount allowed by such applicable law, and any
excess shall be cancelled automatically and if theretofore paid shall be
credited by the Lender on the principal amount of the Indebtedness (or, to the
extent that the principal amount of the Indebtedness shall have been or would
thereby be paid in full, refunded by the Lender to the Borrower); and (ii) in
the event that the maturity of the Note is accelerated by reason of an election
of the holder thereof resulting from any Event of Default under this Agreement
or otherwise, or in the event of any required or permitted prepayment, then such
consideration that constitutes interest under law applicable to the Lender may
never include more than the maximum amount allowed by such applicable law, and
excess interest, if any, provided for in this Agreement or otherwise shall be
cancelled automatically by the Lender as of the date of such acceleration or
prepayment and, if theretofore paid, shall be credited by the Lender on the
principal amount of the Indebtedness (or, to the extent that the principal
amount of the Indebtedness shall have been or would thereby be paid in full,
refunded by the Lender to the Borrower).  All sums paid or agreed to be paid to
the Lender for the use, forbearance or detention of sums due hereunder shall, to
the extent permitted by law applicable to the Lender, be amortized, prorated,
allocated and spread throughout the full term of the Loans evidenced by the Note
until payment in full so that the rate or amount of interest on account of any
Loans hereunder does not exceed the maximum amount allowed by such applicable
law.  If at any time and from time to time (i) the amount of interest payable to
the Lender on any date shall be computed at the Highest Lawful Rate applicable
to the Lender


                                      -63-
<PAGE>

pursuant to this Section 11.14 and (ii) in respect of any subsequent interest
computation period the amount of interest otherwise payable to the Lender would
be less than the amount of interest payable to the Lender computed at the
Highest Lawful Rate applicable to the Lender, then the amount of interest
payable to the Lender in respect of such subsequent interest computation period
shall continue to be computed at the Highest Lawful Rate applicable to the
Lender until the total amount of interest payable to the Lender shall equal the
total amount of interest which would have been payable to the Lender if the
total amount of interest had been computed without giving effect to this Section
11.14. To the extent that Article 5069-1.04 of the Texas Revised Civil Statutes
is relevant for the purpose of determining the Highest Lawful Rate, the Lender
elects to determine the applicable rate ceiling under such Article by the
indicated weekly rate ceiling from time to time in effect.

          Section 11.15  CONFIDENTIALITY.   In the event that the Borrower
provides to the Lender written confidential information belonging to the
Borrower, if the Borrower shall denominate such information in writing as
"confidential", the Lender shall thereafter maintain such information in
confidence in accordance with the standards of care and diligence that each
utilizes in maintaining its own confidential information.  This obligation of
confidence shall not apply to such portions of the information which (i) are in
the public domain, (ii) hereafter become part of the public domain without the
Lender breaching its obligation of confidence to the Borrower, (iii) are
previously known by the Lender from some source other than the Borrower, (iv)
are hereafter developed by the Lender without using the Borrower's information,
(v) are hereafter obtained by or available to the Lender from a third party who
owes no obligation of confidence to the Borrower with respect to such
information or through any other means other than through disclosure by the
Borrower, (vi) are disclosed with the Borrower's consent, (vii) must be
disclosed either pursuant to any Governmental Requirement or to Persons
regulating the activities of the Lender, or (viii) as may be required by law or
regulation or order of any Governmental Authority in any judicial, arbitration
or governmental proceeding.  Further, the Lender may disclose any such
information to any independent petroleum engineers or consultants, any
independent certified public accountants, any legal counsel employed by such
Person in connection with this Agreement or any Security Instrument, including
without limitation, the enforcement or exercise of all rights and remedies
thereunder, or any assignee or participant (including prospective assignees and
participants) in the Loans; provided, however, that the Lender shall receive a
confidentiality agreement from the Person to whom such information is disclosed
the same obligation to maintain the confidentiality of such information as is
imposed upon it hereunder.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary provided
herein, this obligation of confidence shall cease three (3) years from the date
the information was furnished, unless the Borrower requests in writing at least
thirty (30) days prior to the expiration of such three year period, to maintain
the confidentiality of such information for an additional three year period.
The Borrower waives any and all other rights it may have to confidentiality as
against the Lender arising by contract, agreement, statute or law except as
expressly stated in this Section 11.15.

          Section 11.16  EFFECTIVENESS.  This Agreement shall be effective on
the Closing Date (the "EFFECTIVE DATE").


                                      -64-
<PAGE>

          Section 11.17  EXCULPATION PROVISIONS.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO
SPECIFICALLY AGREES THAT IT HAS A DUTY TO READ THIS AGREEMENT AND THE SECURITY
INSTRUMENTS AND AGREES THAT IT IS CHARGED WITH NOTICE AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE TERMS
OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE SECURITY INSTRUMENTS; THAT IT HAS IN FACT READ THIS
AGREEMENT AND IS FULLY INFORMED AND HAS FULL NOTICE AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE TERMS,
CONDITIONS AND EFFECTS OF THIS AGREEMENT; THAT IT HAS BEEN REPRESENTED BY
INDEPENDENT LEGAL COUNSEL OF ITS CHOICE THROUGHOUT THE NEGOTIATIONS PRECEDING
ITS EXECUTION OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE SECURITY INSTRUMENTS; AND HAS RECEIVED
THE ADVICE OF ITS ATTORNEY IN ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE SECURITY
INSTRUMENTS; AND THAT IT RECOGNIZES THAT CERTAIN OF THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT
AND THE SECURITY INSTRUMENTS RESULT IN ONE PARTY ASSUMING THE LIABILITY INHERENT
IN SOME ASPECTS OF THE TRANSACTION AND RELIEVING THE OTHER PARTY OF ITS
RESPONSIBILITY FOR SUCH LIABILITY.  EACH PARTY HERETO AGREES AND COVENANTS THAT
IT WILL NOT CONTEST THE VALIDITY OR ENFORCEABILITY OF ANY EXCULPATORY PROVISION
OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE SECURITY INSTRUMENTS ON THE BASIS THAT THE PARTY HAD
NO NOTICE OR KNOWLEDGE OF SUCH PROVISION OR THAT THE PROVISION IS NOT
"CONSPICUOUS."






                          [SIGNATURES BEGIN NEXT PAGE]









                                      -65-

<PAGE>

          The parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as
of the day and year first above written.

BORROWER:                     MIDLAND RESOURCES, INC.


                                   By:
                                      -------------------------------
                                   Name:     Deas H. Warley III
                                   Title:    President

                                   Address for Notices:

                                   16701 Greenspoint Park Drive, Suite 200
                                   Houston, Texas  77060

                                   Telecopier No.:     (713) 873-5058
                                   Telephone No.:      (713) 873-4828
                                   Attention:          Alan Barth






                                      -66-

<PAGE>

LENDER:                            FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK OF
                                   NORTH CAROLINA



                                   By:
                                      --------------------------------
                                   Name:     Michael J. Kolosowsky
                                   Title:    Vice President


                                   Lending Office for Base Rate Loans
                                   LIBOR Loans:

                                   First Union National Bank of North Carolina
                                   301 South College Street, TW-10
                                   Charlotte, North Carolina  28288-0608

                                   Telecopier No.:     (704) 383-0288
                                   Telephone No.:      (704) 383-0281

                                   Address for Notices:

                                   First Union Corporation of North Carolina
                                   First City Tower, Suite 2255
                                   1001 Fannin
                                   Houston, Texas  77002

                                   Telecopier No.:     (713) 650-6354
                                   Telephone No.:      (713) 650-0452
                                   Attention:          Jay M. Chernosky



                                      -67-

<PAGE>

                                  SCHEDULE 7.02

                                   LIABILITIES


None, except for the Interest Rate Swap Transaction between Borrower and Lender
set forth in Schedule 7.21.

















                                   Sched 7.02

<PAGE>

                                  SCHEDULE 7.03

                                   LITIGATION


All legal proceedings are as described in Item 3 of Borrower's Form 10-KSB for
the year ended December 31, 1995.














                                   Sched 7.03

<PAGE>

                                  SCHEDULE 7.09

                                      TAXES


None.













                                   Sched 7.09

<PAGE>

                                  SCHEDULE 7.10

                                  TITLES, ETC.


None.












                                   Sched 7.10

<PAGE>

                                  SCHEDULE 7.14

                      LIST OF SUBSIDIARIES AND PARTNERSHIPS


Midland Resources Operating Company, Inc.
MRI Acquisition Corp.



















                                   Sched 7.14


<PAGE>

                                  SCHEDULE 7.17

                              ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS


None.















                                   Sched 7.17

<PAGE>

                                  SCHEDULE 7.19

                                    INSURANCE


As set forth in the attached certificates of insurance.

















                                   Sched 7.19

<PAGE>

                                  SCHEDULE 7.20

                                 GAS IMBALANCES


None.












                                   Sched 7.20


<PAGE>

                                  SCHEDULE 7.21

                               HEDGING AGREEMENTS


Interest Rate Swap Transaction between Borrower and Lender as set forth in the
attached.














                                   Sched 7.21

<PAGE>

                                  SCHEDULE 9.01

                                      DEBT


None, except for the Interest Rate Swap Transaction between Borrower and Lender
set forth in Schedule 7.21.
















                                   Sched 9.01

<PAGE>

                                  SCHEDULE 9.02

                                      LIENS


Liens.

















                                   Sched 9.02

<PAGE>

                                  SCHEDULE 9.03

                          INVESTMENTS, LOANS & ADVANCES


None.

















                                   Sched 9.03

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT A

                                  FORM OF NOTE

$_________________________                            ___________________, 199__


     FOR VALUE RECEIVED, MIDLAND RESOURCES, INC., a ____________ corporation
(the "BORROWER") hereby promises to pay to the order of FIRST UNION NATIONAL
BANK OF NORTH CAROLINA, a national banking association (the "LENDER"), at its
Principal Office at 301 South College Street, TW-10, Charlotte, North Carolina
28288-0608, the principal sum of  _____________ Dollars  ($____________) (or
such lesser amount as shall equal the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the
Loans made by the Lender to the Borrower under the Credit Agreement, as
hereinafter defined), in lawful money of the United States of America and in
immediately available funds, on the dates and in the principal amounts provided
in the Credit Agreement, and to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of
each such Loan, at such office, in like money and funds, for the period
commencing on the date of such Loan until such Loan shall be paid in full, at
the rates per annum and on the dates provided in the Credit Agreement.

     The date, amount, Type, interest rate, Interest Period and maturity of each
Loan made by the Lender to the Borrower, and each payment made on account of the
principal thereof, shall be recorded by the Lender on its books and, prior to
any transfer of this Note, may be endorsed by the Lender on the schedules
attached hereto or any continuation thereof or on any separate record maintained
by the Lender.

     This Note is the Note referred to in the Credit Agreement dated as of
October 31, 1996 between the Borrower and the Lender and evidences Loans made by
the Lender thereunder (such Credit Agreement as the same may be amended or
supplemented from time to time, the "CREDIT AGREEMENT").  Capitalized terms used
in this Note have the respective meanings assigned to them in the Credit
Agreement.

     This Note is issued pursuant to the Credit Agreement and is entitled to the
benefits provided for in the Credit Agreement and the Security Instruments.  The
Credit Agreement provides for the acceleration of the maturity of this Note upon
the occurrence of certain events, for prepayments of Loans upon the terms and
conditions specified therein and other provisions relevant to this Note.

     THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS
OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.

                              MIDLAND RESOURCES, INC.


                              By:
                                 -------------------------------------
                              Name:
                              Title:


                                      A - 1

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT B

             FORM OF BORROWING, CONTINUATION AND CONVERSION REQUEST


                          _____________________, 199__

     MIDLAND RESOURCES, INC., a ___________ corporation (the "BORROWER"),
pursuant to the Credit Agreement dated as of October 31, 1996 (together with all
amendments or supplements thereto, the "CREDIT AGREEMENT") between the Borrower
and FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK OF NORTH CAROLINA, (the "LENDER") hereby makes the
requests indicated below (unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms are
defined in the Credit Agreement):

/ /  1.   Loans:

     (a)  Aggregate amount of new Loans to be $______________________;

     (b)  Requested funding date is _________________, 199__;

     (c)  $_____________________ of such borrowings are to be LIBOR Loans;

          $_____________________ of such borrowings are to be Base Rate Loans;
          and

     (d)  Length of Interest Period for LIBOR Loans is:

          _________________________.

/ /  2.   LIBOR Loan Continuation for LIBOR Loans maturing on
          _____________________:

     (a)  Aggregate amount to be continued as LIBOR Loans is
          $____________________;

     (b)  Aggregate amount to be converted to Base Rate Loans is
          $____________________;

     (c)  Length of Interest Period for continued LIBOR Loans is
          ________________________.


                                       B-1

<PAGE>

/ /  3.   Conversion of Outstanding Base Rate Loans to LIBOR Loans:

          Convert $__________________ of the outstanding Base Rate Loans to
          LIBOR Loans on ____________________ with an Interest Period of
          ______________________.

/ /  4.   Conversion of outstanding LIBOR Loans to Base Rate Loans:

          Convert $__________________ of the outstanding LIBOR Loans with
          Interest Period maturing on  ______________________, 199_, to Base
          Rate Loans.

     The undersigned certifies that he is the _____________________ of the
Borrower, and that as such he is authorized to execute this certificate on
behalf of the Borrower.  The undersigned further certifies, represents and
warrants on behalf of the Borrower that the Borrower is entitled to receive the
requested borrowing, continuation or conversion under the terms and conditions
of the Credit Agreement.

                              MIDLAND RESOURCES, INC.



                              By:
                                 ------------------------------------
                              Name:
                              Title:











                                       B-2

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT C

                         FORM OF COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE


     The undersigned hereby certifies that he is the ________________ of MIDLAND
RESOURCES, INC., a ____________ corporation (the "BORROWER") and that as such he
is authorized to execute this certificate on behalf of the Borrower.  With
reference to the Credit Agreement dated as of October 31, 1996, together with
all amendments or supplements thereto being the "AGREEMENT") between the
Borrower and FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK OF NORTH CAROLINA, a national banking
association (the "LENDER"), the undersigned represents and warrants as follows
(each capitalized term used herein having the same meaning given to it in the
Agreement unless otherwise specified):

          (a)  The representations and warranties of the Borrower contained
     in Article VII of the Agreement and in the Security Instruments and
     otherwise made in writing by or on behalf of the Borrower pursuant to
     the Agreement and the Security Instruments were true and correct when
     made, and are repeated at and as of the time of delivery hereof and
     are true and correct at and as of the time of delivery hereof, except
     to the extent such representations and warranties are expressly
     limited to an earlier date or the Lender has expressly consented in
     writing to the contrary.

          (b)  The Borrower has performed and complied with all agreements
     and conditions contained in the Agreement and in the Security
     Instruments required to be performed or complied with by it prior to
     or at the time of delivery hereof.

          (c)  Since __________________, no change has occurred, either in
     any case or in the aggregate, in the condition, financial or
     otherwise, of the Borrower or any Subsidiary which would have a
     Material Adverse Effect.

          (d)  There exists, and, after giving effect to the loan or loans
     with respect to which this certificate is being delivered, will exist,
     no Default under the Agreement or any event or circumstance which
     constitutes, or with notice or lapse of time (or both) would
     constitute, an event of default under any loan or credit agreement,
     indenture, deed of trust, security agreement or other agreement or
     instrument evidencing or pertaining to any Debt of the Borrower or any
     Subsidiary, or under any material agreement or instrument to which the
     Borrower or any Subsidiary is a party or by which the Borrower or any
     Subsidiary is bound.

          (e)  Attached hereto are the detailed computations necessary to
     determine whether the Borrower is in compliance with Sections 9.___,
     9.___ and 9.___ as of the end of the [fiscal quarter][fiscal year]
     ending_____________________.


                                       C-1

<PAGE>

     EXECUTED AND DELIVERED this ____ day of ______________.

                              MIDLAND RESOURCES, INC.



                              By:
                                 -------------------------------------
                              Name:
                              Title:

















                                       C-2

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT E

                          LIST OF SECURITY INSTRUMENTS

1.   Mortgage, Security Agreement, Assignment of Production and Financing
     Statement dated June 26, 1991 from the Borrower in favor of First City,
     Texas-Midland, N.A. with respect to its oil and gas properties located in
     Illinois and as assigned to the Lender on October 14, 1993.

2.   Mortgage, Security Agreement, Assignment of Production and Financing
     Statement dated February 28, 1992 from the Borrower in favor of First City,
     Texas-Midland, N.A. with respect to its oil and gas properties located in
     Illinois and as assigned to the Lender on October 14, 1993.

3.   Mortgage, Security Agreement, Assignment of Production and Financing
     Statement dated October 14, 1993 from the Borrower in favor of the Lender
     with respect to its oil and gas properties located in Illinois.

4.   Deed of Trust, Security Agreement, Assignment of Production and Financing
     Statement dated June 26, 1991 from the Borrower in favor of First City,
     Texas-Midland, N.A. with respect to its oil and gas properties located in
     Texas and assigned to the Lender on October 14, 1993.

5.   Deed of Trust, Security Agreement, Assignment of Production and Financing
     Statement dated February 28, 1992 from the Borrower in favor of First City,
     Texas-Midland, N.A. with respect to its oil and gas properties located in
     Texas, as amended by Amendment of Deed of Trust, Security Agreement,
     Assignment of Production and Financing Statement dated March 5, 1993 and
     assigned to the Lender on October 14, 1993.

6.   Deed of Trust, Security Agreement, Assignment of Production and Financing
     Statement dated February 28, 1992 from the Borrower in favor of First City,
     Texas-Midland, N.A. with respect to its oil and gas properties located in
     Texas, as amended by Amendment of Deed of Trust, Security Agreement,
     Assignment of Production and Financing Statement dated March 5, 1993 and
     assigned to the Lender on October 14, 1993.

7.   Deed of Trust, Security Agreement, Assignment of Production and Financing
     Statement dated February 28, 1992 from Miresco, Inc., now known as Midland
     Resources Operating Company, Inc. ("MIDLAND OPERATING"), in favor of First
     City, Texas-Midland, N.A. with respect to its oil and gas properties
     located in Texas, as amended by Amendment of Deed of Trust, Security
     Agreement, Assignment of Production and Financing Statement dated March 5,
     1993 and assigned to the Lender on October 14, 1993.


                                       E-1

<PAGE>


8.   Deed of Trust, Security Agreement, Assignment of Production and Financing
     Statement dated October 14, 1993 from the Borrower in favor of the Lender
     with respect to its oil and gas properties located in Texas, as amended by
     First Amendment of Deed of Trust, Security Agreement, Assignment of
     Production and Financing Statement dated August 11, 1994 and Second
     Amendment of Deed of Trust, Security Agreement, Assignment of Production
     and Financing Statement dated December 29, 1994.

9.   Deed of Trust, Security Agreement, Assignment of Production and Financing
     Statement dated October 14, 1993 from the Borrower in favor of the Lender
     with respect to its oil and gas properties located in Texas, as amended by
     First Amendment of Deed of Trust, Security Agreement, Assignment of
     Production and Financing Statement dated December 29, 1994.

10.  Deed of Trust, Security Agreement, Assignment of Production and Financing
     Statement dated August 15, 1994 from the Borrower in favor of the Lender
     with respect to its oil and gas properties located in Texas, as amended by
     First Amendment of Deed of Trust, Security Agreement, Assignment of
     Production and Financing Statement dated December 29, 1994.

11.  Deed of Trust, Security Agreement, Assignment of Production and Financing
     Statement dated September 23, 1994 from the Borrower in favor of the Lender
     with respect to its oil and gas properties located in Texas, as amended by
     First Amendment of Deed of Trust, Security  Agreement, Assignment of
     Production and Financing Statement dated December 29, 1994.

12.  Deed of Trust, Security Agreement, Assignment of Production and Financing
     Statement dated June 1, 1995 from the Borrower in favor of the Lender.

13.  Security Agreement dated October 14, 1993 from the Borrower in favor of the
     Lender, as amended by First Amendment of Security Agreement dated December
     29, 1994 .

14.  Security Agreement dated August 11, 1994 from the Borrower in favor of the
     Lender with respect to stock of Midland Operating, as amended by First
     Amendment of Security Agreement dated December 29, 1994.

15.  Security Agreement dated September 23, 1996 from MRI Acquisition Corp.
     ("MRI") with respect to stock of Summit Petroleum Corporation.

16.  Guaranty Agreement dated August 11, 1994 from Midland Operating in favor of
     the Lender, as amended by First Amendment to Guaranty Agreement dated
     December 29, 1994.


                                       E-2

<PAGE>

17.  Guaranty Agreement dated September 23, 1996 from MRI in favor of the
     Lender.

18.  Amended, Restated and Consolidated Mortgage, Deed of Trust, Assignment of
     Production, Security Agreement and Financing Statement dated October 31,
     1996 executed by the Borrower with respect to its oil and gas properties
     located in Texas.

19.  Financing Statement executed by the Borrower with respect to item 18 above.

20.  Second Amendment to Security Agreement dated October 31, 1996 between the
     Borrower and the Lender.

21.  Financing Statement Amendment executed by the Borrower with respect to item
     20 above.

22.  Second Amendment to Security Agreement dated October 31, 1996 between the
     Borrower and the Lender with respect to the stock of Midland Operating.

23.  Financing Statement executed by the Borrower with respect to item 22 above.

24.  First Amendment to Security Agreement dated October 31, 1996 between MRI
     and the Lender with respect to the stock of Summit Petroleum Corporation.

25.  Financing Statement executed by MRI with respect to item 25 above.

26.  Guaranty Agreement dated October 31, 1996 executed by Midland Operating in
     favor of the Lender.

27.  Guaranty Agreement dated October 31, 1996 executed by MRI in favor of the
     Lender.

28.  Financing Statement Amendments amending previously filed financing
     statements to reflect Borrower's change of address.





                                       E-3